Subject: [NEXTEL-1] 911 system for Ingham now one step closer Commissioners vote to accept Tyco proposal

From: Marcel <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2003 21:34:59 -0500

Published 3/12/2003
911 system for Ingham now one step closer Commissioners vote to accept Tyco proposal

By Hugh Leach
Lansing State Journal

MASON - A radio communications
system Ingham County police officers
and firefighters say they need to do
their jobs more safely and efficiently
may be as little as a year away.

Tuesday, county commissioners voted
14-2 to accept a proposal from

M/A-COM Inc. to supply the $10 million
system despite concerns over business
practices and stability of Tyco
Electronics, M/A-COM's parent
company.

But commissioners also raised the
possibility of allowing the sheriff's
department to obtain a separate
communications system, similar to that
used by the Michigan State Police.

The M/A-COM system was
recommended by a nine-member
committee composed of police and fire
departments from throughout the
county.

"Fire and police personnel put their lives
on the line for us every day and they
have every right to expect us to supply
them with the equipment they say they
need to do their jobs," Commissioner
Debbie DeLeon said.

She said the county received letters
signed by all county police and fire
chiefs supporting the M/A-COM
system. The new system will improve
the departments' ability to
communicate with their own people
inside buildings, which is difficult with
the current system, and allow better
communication between departments and with the 911 emergency dispatch centers.

The only holdout was Sheriff Gene Wriggelsworth, who said the system is "antiquated
technology and will not prepare Ingham County properly for future communications
needs."

He said the state police system could be adapted to the sheriff's department and
made compatible with the equipment the other agencies receive.

Commissioner Mark Grebner said the sheriff should be allowed to make his case to
the board's Law Enforcement Committee, but said he does not think the board will go
for a separate system. County Controller Jerry Ambrose estimated it could cost an
additional $1.2 million to give the sheriff's department a separate system.

The board's vote allows Ambrose and the county attorney to negotiate with M/A-COM
to buy the system. Ambrose said talks would include provisions protecting the county
should Tyco go bankrupt, sell M/A-COM or be unable to meet contract provisions.
Deputy Controller John Neilsen said the new system could be in place in 12 to 18
months.

http://www.lsj.com/news/local/030312_radio_1b-2b.html
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