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Atchison Addresses Joint Communications Problem

By Joel Hardy

07/31/2014

Atchison Co Sheriff Jack Laurie

(KAIR)--Atchison County law enforcement officials recently voiced concerns regarding the need to upgrade the county's emergency radio equipment, and that need is expected to be addressed in the very near future.

Sheriff Jack Laurie says the current system posses a serious safety risk when “you have multiple public safety agencies that try to work together, and they can't communicate together without a third party being involved, it makes it difficult and it makes it dangerous not being able to communicate with other people. Communications is key in public safety”.

Laurie says that planned upgrade requirements that will soon be issued by the Federal Communications Commission have influenced the local plan for the new system. The FCC will soon require everyone to go digital in the next three to five years. Laurie says the system they are looking to upgrade to is on the digital network, but it is also a step up from a digital system.

Atchison City Manager Trey Cocking says the city has identified a potential funding source for the upgrade, and are working with the county to find a cost effective solution to the problem.

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