Raleigh Interview

David Schoenberger

Raleigh Police Department Interview
June 16, 2000
Mr. Walt Fuller

System Structure

How many users of the system? Police? Fire? Other services?
There are 51 agencies on the system. There are 700 officers in the Raleigh Police Department. There are 23 fire stations. Fuller estimates 3000-5000 users systemwide.

Problems with too many users wanting access at a given time?
When there are severe thunderstorms, "everybody's out in the field."

Problems with frequency allocations?
Problems with UHF and VHF frequency allocations have been "few and far between."

How many tower locations?
Fuller thinks there are 11 tower locations.

Do the tower locations provide adequate coverage of the city?
"Yes."

System Performance

Problems with interference?
"No, not really." The city uses subaudible Private Line (PL) tones on frequencies, which cuts down on interference.

Problems with missed radio calls/cutoffs?
Fuller says the city does have "dead areas."

Problems in major emergency/disaster with overuse?
"Sure. The volume of traffic increases."

Problems with system failing entirely?
"No."

Problems with related support systems, such as computers and 911 services?
"No. [The systems are] totally separate." Fuller noted that the CAD system "integrates telephone into radio."

Options in case of system failure?
The neighboring county, Wake, has four tower sites. The city can use these sites if necessary. Fuller says the system has "redundancy built in."

How satisfied with the system are the dispatchers?
Fuller conceded that "we have some dead areas." Clarity, however, is "not a problem."

How satisfied with the system are officers?
Dead spots are a "big officer concern."

How satisfied with the system are communications managers/support personnel?
"We don't have any problems." Fuller pointed out that Durham and Cary (two neighboring cities) lost their trunked systems during Hurricane Fran in 1996. Raleigh/Wake County lost only one tower. North Raleigh was recently annexed by the city, and the city is "working on" coverage issues for this area.

Is interoperability a problem, especially in major incidents?
The city has an 800 MHz mutual aid frequency, called TRACOM. This frequency was originally designated primarily for Raleigh-Durham International Airport. The mutual aid frequency allows for dispatcher-to-dispatcher communications, and dispatchers can also patch officers through to each other.

System Cost

How much did the current system cost?
"I couldn't tell you." Fuller says the system has had its main structure since 1972.

How much are maintenance costs per year?
Maintenance costs are split into two separate budgets. The county works the four main transmitter sites. Wake County is moving to an 800 MHz trunked system, and this will cost $35 million, according to Fuller.

Would upgrading to a trunked system decrease maintenance costs?
"No, probably not."

Adequate funding for maintenance/upgrades?
Fuller said the city and county "always want more funding."

Is cost-benefit analysis used in determining upgrades/procurement?
Fuller stated the city does not use cost-benefit analysis, and he does not believe that the county uses cost-benefit analysis either.

System Upgrades

What are planned upgrades to radio system?
The city is moving to an 800 MHz digital trunked system with Wake County. The city is tied to the county "very closely." The trunked system is "not even in the budget yet," however.

What are planned upgrades in support systems (e.g. CAD, MDTs, Enhanced 911, etc.)?
Both the CAD system and the MDT system are going to be upgraded. There will be an "RFP by the end of July for a new CAD system." The MDTs operate on the CDPD protocol.

How would a trunked system help/hurt the city?
The "official stance" of the City of Raleigh is that it does not "want to go 800." The city is "satisfied" with its conventional system.

Are upgrades sometimes foregone because of inadequate funding?
"Yes and no." Fuller noted that the police department has received three new repeater channels, and the fire department has received two new repeater channels.

Are upgrades sometimes foregone because of conflicts with local government?
"No, [the city does not have that] situation."

System Politics

Conflicts with communications managers and radio manufacturers (Motorola, GE, etc.)?
There are no conflicts with Motorola. The support has been "excellent."

Has the system been in the news much recently?
Fuller says the city has not had publicity with the radio system. The city tries "to stay out of the news."

How satisfied is the public with the system?
Fuller stated that the public "doesn't know too much about it."

Other Notes

Regarding the planned trunked system for the City of Raleigh and Wake County, Fuller noted that there is no funding for the trunked system now. The "schools are coming first now in the budget." The trunked system has been reentered into the seven year capital improvement plan, however. The 800 MHz system has been "brought back on the table." The city and county would like to see the trunked system on the air in time for the Special Olympics, which the region is hosting.