Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Communications topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Smyth County emergency director: tower replacement scheduled after Saltville officer lacked immediate radio backup
Summary
Smyth County Emergency Director Curtis Crawford told Saltville council June 24 that planned tower work beginning June 25 aims to restore full police radio coverage after a recent call left a patrol officer without immediate backup; officials said temporary coverage has been improved and a return to the original tower could take weeks.
Curtis Crawford, director of Smyth County Emergency Services, told the Saltville Town Council on June 24 that county crews have identified problems with the radio link used by town police and plan equipment replacement starting June 25.
Crawford said the issue surfaced after a Saltville patrol officer on a call in the Lake Drive area requested backup and no unit could respond right away. He said the county ran test calls and made adjustments, temporarily shifting the police signal closer to town while leaving the fire department on the current tower. "It may take about 2 weeks before the police can be moved back to that tower," Crawford said, adding that the system could be fully operational by September or October and possibly by year-end.
Chief of Police Bryan Lynch told the council that coverage has improved since the adjustments and thanked Crawford’s team for their assistance. Lynch said the department and county have been coordinating during the transition to ensure officers have adequate communications while work proceeds.
Crawford said the county notified two residents whose property might be affected by the replacement work. The county and town will continue to monitor coverage; Crawford said the June 25 replacement is the next operational step and staff will provide updates to the council as the work progresses.
