NCJ Number
373
Date Published
1967
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT LOOKS AT A PROPOSED COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY AND CONTROL IN THE WASHINGTON, D.C. POLICE DEPARTMENT TO MEET FUTURE REQUIREMENTS.
Abstract
RECENT STUDIES HAVE CREATED AN AWARENESS OF THE NEED FOR IMPROVEMENTS OF WASHINGTON, D.C. POLICE COMMUNICATIONS. A STUDY WAS ORGANIZED TO LOOK AT PRESENT AND FUTURE SYSTEMS AND NEEDS, AND RECOMMEND A SYSTEM TO MEET THOSE NEEDS. A DETAILED DISCUSSION CONCENTRATES ON THE VEHICULAR AND FOOTMAN'S RADIO SYSTEM, POINT-TO-POINT AND PORTABLE RADIO, EQUIPMENT CONFIGURATIONS, AND USE OF AVAILABLE FREQUENCIES. IN THE PROPOSED SYSTEM CONFIGURATION AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO DIVIDE THE GROUP ACCORDING TO FUNCTION AND PROVIDE AS MUCH FLEXIBILITY AS POSSIBLE WITH THE LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES PLANNED. A CHANNEL ALLOCATION PLAN SHOWS HOW CITYWIDE COVERAGE WILL BE OBTAINED. CHANNEL ALLOCATIONS WERE PROPOSED AFTER CONSIDERING HARDWARE LIMITATIONS, EXISTING EQUIPMENT, AND FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION. THE COMMUNICATIONS CENTER PROCEDURE DWELLS ON PERSONNEL FUNCTIONS AND CONSOLE EQUIPMENT. THE GOAL OF THE EMERGENCY ROOM, WHICH IS PRESENTLY FOR COORDINATING CIVIL DEFENSE EFFORTS, WOULD BE TO GATHER THE REPRESENTATIVES OF POLICE, FIRE DEPARTMENT, UTILITIES, ETC. AT ONE LOCATION IN WASHINGTON FOR SITUATIONS SUCH AS RIOTS OR HUGE FIRES. THEY WOULD WORK TOGETHER AND HAVE LINKS TO THEIR RESPECTIVE UNITS. AN ANALYSIS OF RADIO TRAFFIC TAKEN FROM AUDIO TAPES OF COMMUNICATIONS, AND NUMBER OF ASSIGNMENTS FOR A GIVEN HOUR WAS PLOTTED TO SHOW MESSAGE LENGTH; AND CHANNEL TIME VS NUMBER OF ASSIGNMENTS. A MATHEMATICAL MODEL WAS DEVELOPED OF A CHANNEL-ZONED SYSTEM INDICATING THE PROBABILITY OF THE CHANNEL BEING FREE OR THE PROBABILITY OF CALLS IN THE SYSTEM. IT IS APPLIED TO THE PLANNED POLICE FLEET TO INDICATE ADDITIONAL CHANNEL REQUIREMENTS.