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New York City Police Department Interview
May 30, 2000
Lt. Edward J. Dempsey
System
Structure
How many users of the system? Police? Fire?
Other services?
There are 24,000 users of portable radios, and 5,000 users of mobile
radios. There are 42,000 sworn officers in the New York City Police
Department.
Problems with too many users wanting access at a given
time?
Dempsey says users want access "all the time." The city's 24
patrol zones have been expanded to 35.
Problems with frequency allocations?
There has been a lack of availability. The city received a waiver from the
FCC (Federal Communications Commission) to use an unused television channel (16)
in 1995. This eased up on the congestion.
How many tower locations?
There are 140 transmitter and 210 receiver sites. Some have backup
systems.
Do the tower locations provide adequate coverage of the
city?
The tower locations provide adequate coverage of the city.
System
Performance
Problems with interference?
There are occasional problems with interference. A transmitter may go bad,
or other users may cause the interference.
Problems with missed radio calls/cutoffs?
Missed calls are simply the result of user discipline, and not an indication of
anything inherently wrong with the system.
Problems in major emergency/disaster with overuse?
When there are problem in these situations, users are "offloaded" to a
Citywide channel. Dempsey says the first few minutes of the emergency are
the main problem, as everyone tries to communicate at the same time. The
Citywide channels work well enough.
Problems with system failing entirely?
Failures are few and far between. The system has redundancies
built-in. There are generators and standby transmitters.
Problems with related support systems, such as computers
and 911 services?
There was one major failure of the 911 system, when a power failure disabled the
system for 26 seconds.
Options in case of system failure?
In case of system failure, the city would run public service
announcements. These would be banners across a television screen.
Citizens would be instructed to use the phone or flag down a patrol car.
Dempsey notes that it would be difficult to lose the radio systems.
How
satisfied with the system are the dispatchers?
The dispatchers are "very satisfied" with the system.
How satisfied with the system are officers?
The officers think the system is "pretty good."
How satisfied with the system are communications
managers/support personnel?
Communications managers are "very satisfied" with the system.
Is interoperability a problem, especially in major
incidents?
Dempsey says there are six interoperability channels and the Citywide
channels. EMS operate on UHF channels, and has equipment in their
radios. The Fire Department is moving to UHF channels.
System Cost
How much did the current system cost?
Dempsey could not really answer this question. He did say that the system
is worth $250 million, including the consoles, etc.
How much are maintenance costs per year?
Parts and labor total about $6 million per year. The cost, benefits, and
parts are examined to arrive at a cost. This figure is a lump sum.
Would
upgrading to a trunked system decrease maintenance costs?
Dempsey has not given any thought to this question. He says that initially
a trunked system would probably increase costs, but then would decrease costs.
Would upgrading to a digital system decrease maintenance costs?
Digital radio could cost more, up to 20% more.
Adequate funding for maintenance/upgrades?
Dempsey says there is not adequate funding.
Is
cost-benefit analysis used in determining upgrades/procurement?
The city does not use cost-benefit analysis. It uses a type of analysis
called life-cycle analysis.
System Upgrades
What are planned upgrades to radio system?
There are no plans in the near future for radio system enhancement.
What are planned upgrades in support systems (e.g. CAD,
MDTs, Enhanced 911, etc.)?
A new CAD system is in bidding. A new MDT system is included in this
bidding.
How
would a trunked system help/hurt the city?
A trunked system would help the city.
Are upgrades sometimes foregone because of inadequate
funding?
Upgrades are sometimes foregone because of inadequate funding.
System Politics
Disagreements
with local government over technology upgrades?
When there are disagreements, the department simply restructures the
request. The department has always received what it has needed, although
sometimes it is not funded all the way. There are many compromises to be
made. Dempsey says that sometimes the city managers do not understand what
the department needs or the officers in the field need.
System
subject to too much/too little oversight by local government?
Dempsey said the system is subject to too much oversight by the local
government.
Conflicts with communications managers and radio manufacturers (Motorola, GE,
etc.)?
There have been support problems with Motorola. Sometimes, a promise
is made that the company cannot deliver on. For example, Dempsey said they
can provide encryption for the department, but not the specific way the
department wants it.
Has the system been in the news much recently?
Dempsey says the system has not been in the news at all.
How satisfied is the public with the system?
The public is aware that the city has a good radio system, according to Dempsey.
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