NCJ Number
207392
Date Published
September 2004
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This report presents the goals and describes the operation of the Interoperable Communications Technology grant program administered by the U.S. Justice Department's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).
Abstract
"Communications interoperability" refers to the ability of police, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and other occupational groups from various jurisdictions to communicate with one another via radio across jurisdictions in the course of responding to an emergency event. Such communication is essential in order to coordinate efficiently and effectively the various operations performed by many occupational groups during a crisis event. Currently, many of the occupational groups likely to respond to a crisis have communications systems that are incompatible with those of other emergency-response agencies from their own and other jurisdictions. COPS has addressed this issue with its Interoperable Communications Technology grant program. This program funds the purchase of interoperable communications equipment; the purchase and deployment of portable gateway solutions for interoperable communications; and the purchase of technologies that will upgrade the ability of law enforcement agencies to improve the timeliness, effectiveness, and accuracy of criminal justice information exchanges. The COPS Office awarded 23 agencies more than $80 million in fiscal year 2004 for such projects. This report lists the recipients.