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System allows all agencies to receive information at
once
BY KEN KOSKY
This story ran on nwitimes.com on Tuesday, March 28,
2006 12:26 AM CST
If
a Porter County Highway Department worker driving in a
rural part of the county discovers a hazardous material
spill, he can get a dispatcher at the Porter County
Sheriff's Department to patch his radio through so he
can talk directly with police, firefighters and other
emergency responders.
The ACU1000 technology, which was made operational late
last year, was unveiled during a demonstration Monday at
the Porter County Sheriff's Department.
"I think it's just going to be a benefit to everyone
involved. We may not understand how valuable it is until
we have to use it," said Al Hoagland, head of the
Highway Department.
Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy David Lain said the
system is so advanced that Sheriff Dave Reynolds could
be vacationing in Florida and have his Nextel hooked in
so that he could hear what emergency responders were
saying and could talk to them.
"This will help all aspects of public safety," Lain
said.
Lain said that before the new technology -- which was
paid for by federal grants secured through U.S. Rep.
Pete Visclosky, D-Ind. -- communication would be hampered because various agencies all use different
frequencies. |
