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Saturday, April 06, 2002
APCO International ESTABLISHes PUBLIC SAFETY FOUNDATION [Source: APCO International] Creation of Organization to Foster Rapid E9-1-1 Deployment ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., (February 26, 2002) – APCO International’s Board of Officers is pleased to announce the creation of a new not-for-profit foundation intended to support the improvement of public safety communications, with the initial emphasis placed on the enhancement of wireless emergency services. Continuing it’s long-standing commitment to serve and strengthen public safety resources, APCO’s Executive Council ratified the APCO Board of Officers’ decision to establish a public safety foundation aimed at improving the readiness of Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs). The vote to ratify the Board’s decision, held this past weekend at the Executive Council’s Mid-Year meeting, was passed by an overwhelming majority. The foundation has been established to solicit donations for the purposes of public safety communication enhancement. APCO recognizes and welcomes the need for the development of a mechanism through which this foundation can best serve PSAP needs. “Expediting wireless 9-1-1 implementation is a goal that all public safety, industry, and policymakers have been working diligently to resolve and are eager to achieve,” said APCO International President Glen Nash. “We believe this Foundation is an effective mechanism through which our goals can be readily achieved, and we look forward to discussing the potential of the Foundation with our fellow public safety organizations and officials.” With support from the public safety community, APCO seeks to utilize a full range of unique resources to engender cooperation among private and public groups to expedite the foundation’s goal of rapid deployment of wireless E9-1-1 technologies. An Advisory Committee will be established and charged with the responsibility of clearly defining the foundation’s objectives, as well as determining how foundation funds will be used by and distributed to public safety answering points. APCO is inviting participants from a broad base of public safety and other governmental associations to be on this Advisory Committee. “Based on my discussions with APCO’s Board of Officers, I am confident that APCO’s current plans for the development and implementation of the foundation have been crafted with the interest of all in mind,” said Harlin McEwen, Chairman of the Communications and Technology Committee for the International Association of Chiefs of Police. “Its efforts will be invaluable to the thousands of PSAPs nationwide that require assistance in order to meet wireless E9-1-1 requirements.” The importance of meeting the greater public safety community’s needs is primary among APCO International’s concerns. APCO’s position on important communications issues is predicated on careful and objective analysis of the facts in the best interest of public safety. About APCO International: APCO International is the oldest and largest public safety communications organization in the world and is the only association that handles the entire operational scope of emergency communications. APCO’s 15,000 members represent public safety agencies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia , as well as U.S. territories, and 34 other countries. Thursday, April 04, 2002
Watch over us [Source: Mount Shasta News] By Kenneth Dailey  7,000 feet above Siskiyou County, CHP traffic officer John McDermott enjoys a unique perspective as he patrols the area from north of Black Butte to the Weed Airport. Speeders beware. Spring's beautiful blue skies and calm conditions mean the California Highway Patrol will increasingly take to the air in search of traffic violations. One motorist found this out the hard way last Wednesday when traffic officer John McDermott radioed from his Cessna, high above Interstate 5, to notify assisting officers on the ground of a white sedan speeding along at 80 miles per hour. "Start rolling," McDermott told the ground units laying in wait at the freeway entrance in south Weed. A minute later the motorist's trip was dampered by the sight of flashing lights emanating from an approaching CHP vehicle. All in all, though, Wednesday was a slow day for vehicles going too fast on I-5, said McDermott, telling his assisting officers that all three patrol cars wouldn't be needed. McDermott has been with the CHP for 34 years, the past 21 of which he's spent patrolling by air. "My favorite thing is the view," he said. So it's no surprise that he especially enjoys his time above Siskiyou County. The region's drastic landscape, winding rivers and lush valleys capture the eye to the point that one wonders how any traffic violators even get noticed. But McDermott is a veteran, one of two original CHP pilots in northern California. Piloting the CHP's new Cessna T-206H, he patrols what's known as the Northern Division -- approximately everywhere north of Williams. The CHP's presence in the sky got a boost in 2001 when the department purchased three new helicopters and 14 new airplanes to update its fleet statewide. The 310 horsepower, turbo-charged Cessna T-206H airplanes cost about $380,000 apiece. Add the special equipment needed for law enforcement and the total reaches about $500,000. The six seater planes are equipped with high-tech radios, GPS, air-traffic alert warning systems and on-board oxygen systems that allow the planes and their pilot to fly at higher altitudes, McDermott said. CHP officials say the new fleet allows the department to significantly increase its time in the air while increasing the services provided to the motoring public. McDermott said he and his fellow pilot patrol each of the Northern Division's four sectors about twice a week. "Patrolling is basically checking to see if everything is OK," he said. They do speed and traffic enforcement, searches, surveillance, pursuits, transportation of people and supplies and photo flights. McDermott said his biggest thrill comes from pursuits. "Once we spot the vehicle from the sky, we know, and they know, they're not getting away." "Prevention through presence," McDermott said, is one of the mottos the CHP operates under. The more often people see CHP vehicles on the highways and in the air, the less likely they are to commit violations, McDermott said. He recalled a time earlier in his career when he was patrolling by car and pulled a motorcyclist over who began to threaten him. But once the motorist saw a helicopter flying overhead, his attitude changed, McDermott said. Prevention through presence applies to more than just speeding and illegal lane changes. "We've been doing a lot more security work since 9-11," McDermott said. "We patrol Shasta Dam, canals, waterways, power lines and power plants. I know the terrorists are determined to attack again; if we can stay up in the air and make our presence known, maybe we can prevent some of the attacks." Wednesday, April 03, 2002
City of Simi Valley is issued license for 800 MHz radio frequencies On March 26th a license was issued to the City of Simi Valley for their slow growth 800 MHz radio system. The system consists of seven frequencies and are licensed for trunk radio use. The radio system is not currently in use. 867.2000 MHz 867.7000 MHz 868.2000 MHz 868.7000 MHz 868.9375 MHz 868.9625 MHz |
