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County to seek in‑depth audit of emergency communications after repeated radio failures
Summary
Following multiple radio and dispatch failures during a recent manhunt and other incidents, the CEO said the county will issue a request for qualifications for a comprehensive communications audit (estimated $70,000–$100,000) and will pilot truncated radios that rely on cellular service.
CEO Bill Everett told the commission the county's communications — radios and dispatch connectivity — produced repeated failures during a recent manhunt, a multi‑vehicle crash response and other incidents when outside agencies' radios worked but the local system did not. He said the county contracted Redtail Communications for an initial review and will pursue a much more comprehensive audit and RFQ that could cost between $70,000 and $100,000.
"Your communication sucks," Everett said bluntly during the meeting, describing instances when officers could not reach dispatch and had to borrow other agencies' radios. Everett and Chair Kevin Hart described examples in which officers responding to an incident could not communicate across dispatch channels and where handheld radios failed inside concrete facilities. The CEO said the county will test truncated, cellular‑capable radios and pursue state funding opportunities; he plans to present an RFQ for the audit at the next commission meeting.
The commission did not take a formal vote; Everett said the audit is intended to identify deficiencies and to produce a scope for necessary capital work to improve interoperability among law enforcement, fire, road and detention services.
