Edmond joins emergency radio system

Edmond police and fire departments were added this week to the state's emergency radio system now being formed with $34 million in Office of Homeland Security grants.

Edmond received $2.5 million to upgrade its communication system for police officers, firefighters and other city workers.

The Homeland Security plan is to expand a system of 800-megahertz radios that will connect emergency responders from different communities with a shared radio system.

Now, Edmond police officers and firefighters can change radio channels and talk directly with an emergency medical worker. In the past, they had to communicate by using two dispatchers who had to relay the emergency information, which caused delays.

"They just have to turn the knob and talk,” said Will Borden, Department of Public Safety interoperability communications manager. "The delays are dangerous.”

The statewide system now has 20,000-plus users with 32 radio towers throughout Oklahoma.

In the last three years with the help of the Homeland Security money, more than 3,000 new users have been added to the system that allows for radio access from Burkburnett, Texas, to Joplin, Mo., Borden said.

Edmond now joins other central Oklahoma agencies like the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and emergency workers in Norman and Shawnee and sheriff's departments in Oklahoma, Cleveland and Pottawatomie counties and fire departments in Moore, Nichols Hills and The Village on the statewide system.