NCJ Number
196884
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 69 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2002 Pages: 46-50
Editor(s)
Charles Higgenbotham
Date Published
September 2002
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article reviews the successful interagency cooperation and communications capability of the Olympic Public Safety Command that ensured the safety of more than 3,500 athletes from 80 countries, 100,000 daily visitors, judges, volunteers, and safety personnel at the 2002 Winter Games, held in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Abstract
Following September 11, the scope of involvement from public safety agencies, at Federal and State levels, increased dramatically, enabling 11,000 law enforcement professionals to communicate effectively, with full activation of military forces including the involvement of Interpol, and a greater emphasis on intelligence monitoring. The radio system that is the nucleus of the $18 million Utah Communications Agency Network (UCAN), handled more than 8.5 million calls, making it possible for every agency on the system to communicate with the others regardless of whether they were working inside or outside of the Olympic fences. The UCAN system was designed to support analog and digital communications and use common event channels. Following the successful Olympic coverage, the system has demonstrated to Utah residents that it can also serve their needs as well. In summary, the success of the experience of the 2002 Winter Games demonstrated an attitude of cooperation among all UCAN agencies and the Olympic Committee, and the effectiveness of interoperability capabilities in the communications system. Anticipated future technological enhancements include transmission of video and broadband data, paramedic capability to send photos of patients to trauma centers, ability to send critical information to firefighters of hazardous materials they may encounter at the scene, and the ability to track wildfires and other natural disasters.