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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.b. Mobile and Portable Radios EXECUTIVE SUMMARY City Council Work Session: April 3, 2018 AGENDA ITEM: Mobile and Portable Radios AGENDA SECTION: Discussion PREPARED BY: Mitchell Scott, Police Chief AGENDA NO. 2.b. ATTACHMENTS: None. APPROVED BY: LJM RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discussion only. BACKGROUND In 2007 the Rosemount Police Department joined a collaboration with the other municipalities and Dakota County to form a unified dispatch center. At that time the agencies went from a 400mhz to an 800mhz system. The collaboration determined the equipment should be uniform and selected Motorola as the type of radios that would be utilized. Currently, police agencies are faced with two issues with regards to currents radios. The first being the equipment, both our mobiles and portable radios have out lived their useful life and are no longer manufactured. The manufacture has stated they will no longer support the current models we utilize. The second issue of concern is that of officer safety. In the initial stages of moving to 800mhz it was believed it would be difficult for an outside source to monitor our radio frequencies. However, with the growth of technology it is now possible to monitor all of our frequencies on your computer or cell phone. This has been extremely concerning to staff as technology now allows individuals who may be barricaded to monitor the agencies tactics during an incident, placing the officers in an undue risk. It is staff’s belief this has already taken place at least once in Dakota County. The majority of the agencies within Dakota County have begun to purchase radios with new encrypted systems. The new radios allow the frequencies to be encrypted and thus prevent outside sources to monitor our channels. It is currently illegal for anyone to attempt to send out the encrypted frequencies over the internet or create an app allowing it to be done. Staff would continue to utilize the Motorola radio system and will be purchasing the new encrypted radios through AMCON Communications utilizing the 2017 MN State Contract Pricing 119587. Staff recommends purchasing the 12 encrypted mobile radios in 2018 for the contract price of $53,000. Staff initially planned to replace the portable radios in 2019; however, with these new safety concerns staff recommends the purchase be moved up to 2018. AMCON has advised staff the portable radios can be received in 2018 and paid for in 2019. The cost to replace the 33 portable radios and encrypting our console would be $162,000. Funds for these purchases are included in the 2019 CIP. RECOMMENDED ACTION Discussion only at this time.