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Status of Public Safety Communications in 1991

NCJ Number
132274
Journal
Nine-one-one Magazine Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: (May-June 1991) Pages: 22-25
Author(s)
A Burton
Date Published
1991
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Despite funding cutbacks, many public safety agencies are purchasing communications equipment and systems that represent the most advanced technologies that offer benefits to law enforcement personnel, dispatchers, and the community.
Abstract
The new equipment includes 800 megahertz trunked radio systems that enable emergency personnel to carry smaller portable radios with improved coverage, hand-carried laptop computers, electronic notepads, and computer-aided dispatch systems. Further advances include electronic records management systems, fire information reporting plans, and enhanced Nine-one-one that gives the dispatcher instant knowledge of the telephone number and address of the caller. Although many police agencies and public safety dispatchers lack these state-of-the-art systems and are using communications systems that are actually unsafe. Thus, developing better technologies may be easier than ensuring that agencies have and use them. Photographs