Citizen Corps Celebrates Successes at One-Year Anniversary
[Source: Citizen Corps]

Having been created by the President in last year's State of the Union Address, Citizen Corps has just hit the one-year mark. In celebration of our anniversary, Citizen Corps has launched a new and improved website!! Please visit http://www.citizencorps.gov to see our new look. The homepage also includes a link to our anniversary press release listing some of our successes this year, including State Citizen Corps Councils formed in 31 States and 2 Territories, with all 56 states and territories expected to have State Councils by end of February 2003; and 304 local Citizen Corps Councils formed in 43 states and territories serving 19% of the United States population, more than 53 million people!

When you visit the website, be sure to review the Citizen Preparedness publications in the How You Can Be Safer section to learn how you can help your family be safer and better prepared at home. In particular, please take a look at "Are You Ready? A Citizen Preparedness Guide." This 100-page handbook explains how to prepare for and deal with terrorist acts as well as other man-made disasters -- such as hazardous waste accidents -- and natural catastrophes. It also provides important information for dealing with everything from tornadoes and heat waves to toxic spills and suspicious packages. The guide also gives information on crisis counseling, disaster plans and even what to do about animals in a disaster.

And also take a look at the listing of Citizen Corps Councils Around the Country to see how we've grown! Every state has a State Citizen Corps Council in development, which means that more and more local councils will have extra support to provide information, training, and volunteer services opportunities at the local level -- which means we will all be more engaged in making this a safer nation.

Thank you for your interest and support of Citizen Corps during our first year! And we know that next year will be even better as we continue to work towards providing community and family safety public education, training, and volunteer service opportunities across the country!!

We would also like to congratulate USA Freedom Corps on our mutual one-year anniversary. Please see the press release at http://www.usafreedomcorps.gov/about_usafc/whats_new/announcements/20030130-2.asp to learn about their many accomplishments over the course of last year.
posted by Tracy Justus at 2/1/2003  

New Oceanside radio system is good to go
[Source: North County Times]

by Yvette Urrea

OCEANSIDE ---- Officers and firefighters are giving the new countywide Regional Communications System radio network they joined this past week a thumbs up.

Oceanside police Lt. Doug Timbs, who has been in charge of setting the system up and arranging training for dispatchers and officers and firefighters, said that the system went live Jan. 20 and it's been a smooth transition with just minor problems.

"They're typically very amazed at the coverage, especially when they leave the city," Timbs said of officers. "We're more in touch with the countywide system of law enforcement."

Before switching to the new $10.5 million emergency services system, Oceanside was the only city in the county still using an a VHF radio system for its police and fire departments. The antiquated VHF system sometimes left officers struggling to communicate to dispatchers and forced them to call off traffic pursuits if they left the city because they could not communicate. Before, officers also could not communicate with other agencies except by telephone and sometimes a delayed radio patch, Timbs said.

One example of an emergency call-out where officers needed to have up-to-the-minute information was the Jan. 18 shooting in Vista in which an explorer and canine were shot, Timbs said. Although the dispatch was not connected yet with the system, officers had been given portable radios to monitor, he said.

As it turned out, Oceanside police officers were among the first to respond to the Vista deputy's call for cover because they were the closest, Timbs said.

"You can just imagine that an officer coming up on that wants to have as much information as possible," Timbs said. "We sent 10 officers and they knew exactly what was happening as it was happening. They didn't have to wait for anyone to relay. There was no lag time. Everything was happening in real time."

Now as part of the system, Timbs said he could send 10 officers to Escondido if requested and they could basically function as part of their department because they can communicate with the dispatchers.

As of Friday, Timbs said police and fire vehicles were converted to the 800 megahertz radio system and personnel were given portable radios. All the department employees such as parking enforcement and senior patrol were also on the system, he said.

"The officers are pleased with their ability to instantly communicate by radio with other agencies to coordinate law enforcement efforts," Timbs said. "It makes us more efficient by promoting interagency cooperation and teamwork."

Officers will hear crime broadcasts from other agencies such as descriptions of robbery suspects or bank robbers, he said. Oceanside dispatch will also be able to do the same to broadcast information about any Oceanside suspects.

Timbs said that problems have been minor and mostly because dispatchers and officers are still trying to master a "new and fairly complex" system.

Fire Battalion Chief Jerry Abshier said that although Saturday was his first day using the new system, all the captains had already praised the system to him and told him communications were clear.

"They all agree it's going smoothly," he said.
posted by Tracy Justus at 1/27/2003