NCJ Number
68589
Date Published
1979
Length
15 pages
Annotation
RESULTS ARE REPORTED FROM A REVIEW AND EVALUATION OF THE NEW CASTLE COUNTY, DELAWARE, POLICE COMMUNICATIONS.
Abstract
PRESENTLY, THE NEW CASTLE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY USES THREE LOW-BAND RADIO FREQUENCIES AND ONE HIGH-BAND FREQUENCY. WHILE THIS CONFIGURATION WAS LOGICAL AT THE TIME OF ITS ELECTION WHEN THE COUNTY WAS RURAL OR SEMI-RURAL, THE COUNTY'S POPULATION GROWTH AND CONSEQUENT GROWTH IN POLICE SERVICE HAVE RENDERED THE CONTINUED USE OF LOW-BAND FREQUENCIES A DETRIMENT TO THE DEPARTMENT'S EFFICIENCY. FREQUENT TWO-CAR RESPONSE IS REQUIRED IN SITUATIONS WHERE A ONE-MAN PATROL UNIT MAY BE SUFFICIENT. THIS IS DUE TO LACK OF PORTABLE COMMUNICATIONS, WHICH SERVE TO INSURE THE SAFETY OF ONE-MAN UNITS OUT OF THEIR VEHICLES. CURRENT SKIP INTERFERENCE DISRUPTS THE RADIO OPERATION AND CAUSES EXCESSIVE FATIGUE. FURTHER, IT POSES A CONTINUED THREAT TO THE SAFETY OF ALL PERSONNEL BY BLOCKING LOCAL DEPARTMENT TRANSMISSION. COMMUNICATION RANGE WILL BE GREATLY IMPROVED WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REPEATER CONCEPT OF COMMUNICATION. A VOTING RECEIVER SYSTEM WILL BE NECESSARY FOR SUPPORTING PORTABLE RADIOS. INTERAGENCY, PARTICULARLY INTERSTATE, COMMUNICATION CAN BE IMPROVED THROUGH THE USE OF HIGH-BAND FREQUENCIES, SINCE THE NEIGHBORING STATES ARE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING THEIR STATEWIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMON CHANNELS. ZONING OF THE CHANNELS USED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT IS A MUST FOR MORE EFFICIENT RADIO TRAFFIC LOADING. CLOSE-SPACED FREQUENCIES FOR REPEATER OPERATION WILL BE REQUIRED TO ENSURE COMPATIBILITY WITH EXISTING DELAWARE PLANS AND THOSE OF THE ADJOINING STATES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)