Delaware County unveils new $38 million 911 radio system

It all started 10 years ago when a Folcroft police officer who was shot seven times was cut off from Delaware County 911 communications, and it culminated with the unveiling of a completely new, $38 million, state-of-the-art radio system.

On June 24, 2016, Officer Chris Dorman was responding to a report of a suspected drug dealer when he scuffled with the man and got shot. During that incident, the county Department of Emergency Services computer began rebooting, cutting communications for about four minutes.

Folcroft Deputy Police Chief Chris Eiserman, president of the Delaware County Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 27, said that event was the catalyst leading to the county transitioning from the 700 MHz-based system to the P25 JVC Kenwood system that provided 3,700 digital portable radios to the county’s first responders and upgraded communication towers, radio equipment and the technology at the Emergency Services center

“That’s what really started it,” Eiserman said. “We voiced our concerns to county council when Chris Dorman got shot. They listened to us and they started taking steps to get a new system in place.”

He said local police understood it would take time.

After being extensively tested in the summer, the system began being implemented in December and was fully operational at the beginning of the year.

“Since Jan. 1, this new system is awesome,” Eiserman said. “The way this system works, you can operate that portable radio anywhere in Delaware County. With the old system, if I was in Radnor, I couldn’t communicate to anybody in Folcroft. It would be too scratchy. It wouldn’t get in. There were a lot of dead areas.”

There were also issues with interruption on the former system.

“The hacking was a big issue … in departments that were busier and had a higher crime problem,” Eiserman said of Chester and municipalities in the area known as Sector 4. “People would get on the radio system … they would interrupt their communications, they would say vulgar language, they would blast music for minutes at a time, and that just interrupts the entire system.”

That’s a thing of the past as county, state and emergency services representatives inaugurated the new system with a ribbon cutting at Emergency Services headquarters in Middletown.

“In partnership with EF Johnson JVC Kenwood, the county has deployed a seamless communications capability to first responders across Delaware County,” County Council Chair Richard Womack said. “The system we deployed here puts Delaware County at the forefront of radio communication. It not only broadens the coverage areas of our emergency telecommunications, it ensures security of communications that our first responders can depend on in the field.”

The new system now provides 99% on-street portable radio coverage, secure lines of communication for first responders in the field with the ability to interlope with surrounding counties and state agencies and coreless radio technology enabling faster and more stable connections of radios.

Of the 3,700 radios purchased, 1,625 went to police and 2,075 went to fire/EMS. Another batch of 206 were purchased by the Department of Emergency Services. The county was able to supply mobile radios for 80% of patrol vehicles in each police department. All of the radios were purchased with grant funding.

Acting Director of Emergency Services Ed Beebe thanked the technical team as well as his entire staff.

“To the DES team, in general, your input and support was invaluable ad helped us get to where we are today,” he said. “The upgrade represents more than replacing radios or infrastructure. It is an investment of the safety of our residents and the men and women who respond when help is needed.”

He said some of the advantages of a P25 radio system include clear audio, improved coverage; enhanced encryption and the ability for agencies to communicate seamlessly with neighboring counties, state partners and federal agencies when large-scale incidents occur

Eiserman noted that all the stakeholders were involved in this effort, including the FOP.

He shared what it means for FOP members.

“It means a sense of security,” Eiserman said. “Police officers can now communicate effectively and with the 911 Center. Before, if the weather was too hot, the radios didn’t work. If the weather was too cold, the radio didn’t work so we were always going out into the unknown. Now, with this new digital radio system, we know when we turn the radio on, we’re going to be able to communicate.”

“The FOP credits the 911 staff and the technical staff that got this done,” he said. “Without their work, it never would have happened.”

Part of the $38 million investment came from more than $6 million in state funding, and state legislators took part in the celebration.

“The new radio communications system represents years of working in collaboration to make sure our first responders have the technology they need to do their jobs safely and reliably,” said state Rep. Leanne Krueger, D-161, of Nether Providence.

Members of the county’s House and Senate delegation advocated for this project.

“We knew that upgrading the infrastructure was essential,” Krueger said. “I had heard firsthand from my fire chiefs and my police chiefs about instances where their radios had gone down when they were out on calls.”

She thanked the dispatchers and first responders for their lifesaving work.

“You keep us safe, and we have invested in you,” Krueger said.

State Rep. Lisa Borowski, D-168, of Middletown, said seamless connection is even more of a necessity in a post-Crozer Health world with the loss of four hospitals in Delaware County.

“We know now more than ever how important they are here in our county (with) the loss of Crozer and what we’ve seen in terms of EMS having to step up, our police having to step up and our fire stepping up,” she said.

Even with that, state Sen. Tim Kearney, D-26, of Swarthmore spoke of the security provided through this investment.

“This is a wonderful day for Delaware County,” he said. “This is a day where I think we all can rest a little easier knowing that our first responders can all communicate with each other and how important that is for all of us.”

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