VERMONT STATEWIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - OPERATIONAL EVALUATION

• NCJ Number: 15726
• Author(s): R C BANTA
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 26 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-016-72
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Westinghouse Public Systems and Services
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

ASSESSMENT OF EXISTING COMMUNICATION SYSTEM TO IDENTIFY PROBLEMS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO ASSIST IN EFFECTING IMPROVEMENTS.

Abstract

TO ACCOMPLISH THIS OBJECTIVE THREE TASKS WERE IDENTIFIED - TO PERFORM A QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN DEPLOYED TO SUPPORT THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE VERMONT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, REVIEW THE OPINION SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE GOVERNOR'S COMMISSION AND EVALUATE RESULTS, AND IDENTIFY COURSES OF ACTION AND TECHNICAL CHANGES TO IMPROVE THE EXISTING COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITY. THE CONSULTANT VISITED SEVEN COMMUNICATIONS USER AGENCIES TO SEE THE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE, TO OBSERVE THE OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES, AND TO DEVELOP A BETTER APPRECIATION FOR THE USER UNDERSTANDING LEVEL THAT HAD BEEN ACHIEVED. ALSO A BRIEF PERIOD WAS SPENT IN THE SOUTH BURLINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT DISPATCH CENTER TO OBSERVE THE TRAFFIC LOADING AND THE SYSTEM OPERATION. OBSERVATIONS WERE ALSO MADE AT OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS. AN OPINION SURVEY OF SYSTEM USERS IDENTIFIED SPECIFIC ITEMS. TROUBLING THE INDIVIDUALS AND THE DEGREE OF USER/SYSTEM UNDERSTANDING. THE SURVEY RESULTS INDICATE THAT MOST COMPLAINTS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH COMMUNICATIONS FROM MOBILE AND PORTABLE UNITS. DETAILED COMMENTS ARE MADE ON SEVERAL ASPECTS OF THE STUDY. THE OBSERVATIONS MADE BY THE CONSULTANT IN THE OPINION SURVEY AND DURING THE AGENCY VISITS RESULTED IN RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A REPEATER SYSTEM AND A SATELLITE RECEIVER SYSTEM IN PROBLEM AREAS. THE RECOMMENDATION FOR A COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR SUGGESTS POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE COURSES OF ACTION PLUS SUGGESTED DUTIES.