New Radio System

Nassau clears air, OKs new 2-way cop radio
BY LAURA WILLIAMS
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Thursday, March 10th, 2005

And the winner is...Motorola.

After a search of nearly two years, Nassau County has chosen Motorola, Inc. to operate the Police Department's new two-way radio network.

"This was a long and tedious process," said Nassau Police Commissioner James Lawrence.

One of the reasons it took so long, officials said, was because they had to ensure the new system would allow Nassau cops to communicate not only with each other but directly with personnel in local village and city police departments, Nassau's 71 fire districts and hundreds of other local, state and federal agencies.

That's something the radio system now in place doesn't do.

The current system was installed in 1982, and shares a limited UHF band with other users in New Jersey. There are lots of places where the system doesn't work.

"Here in Nassau County, there are dead spots," County Executive Tom Suozzi said. "As a result, in some areas, [officers] have to use their cell phones."

The new digital system will cover 97% of the county when used outdoors, and will have 95% coverage indoors. And communication over the Motorola system will travel over a new Nassau County-only frequency - no more sharing the airwaves with New Jersey.

The system will be "encrypted, so casual users cannot eavesdrop on communication," said Stephen McDonald, chief of support for the Nassau County Police Department.

The search may have taken the better part of two years, but it actually took nine years to get to this stage, officials said.

In 1996, the Police Benevolent Association filed a grievance, complaining about the department's outdated radio network. The new system is a result of that grievance, Suozzi said, adding that PBA members took part in every step of the selection process.

Nassau PBA President Gary Delaraba called the announcement a "good thing" but said the process should have been six to nine months shorter.

It will take two more years before the system is up and running, Suozzi said.

If the $40 million contract gets the nod from the Legislature, it is expected to be finalized in May.

Posted Friday, April 8, 2005

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