New radio transmitters boost communication among fire, police, transit

Sudbury's fire, police and public transportation services are getting a technology upgrade.

The idea is to get the three city departments communicating more clearly with each other.

The new radio transmitter system is designed to provide seamless communication among police officers, fire services and public transportation.

With the old system, communications could be disrupted when radio towers stopped working, said Greater Sudbury Police Inspector Todd Zimmerman

Now, "there won't be a need to [say] 'can you repeat that questions?' Because the quality is very good."

Greater Sudbury deputy fire chief Graham Campbell said the new radio tools will allow fire fighters to call for help without issuing a verbal mayday.

With the new system, there's a button on the radio that's monitored by dispatch and, when the button's pressed, it sets off an alarm in dispatch with lots of lights and noise and everything, he said.

So there's no mistaking what it is.

Sudbury's police and public transportation services are already using the technology, while fire services begin at the end of the month.

Robert Gauthier, Greater Sudburys manager of transit operations, says the new system allows transit workers to respond to emergencies more efficiently.

"Immediately, when the bus driver answers, the police, dispatcher or fire dispatcher is going to be there, hearing direct communication. There won't be a middle-man for any lost in translation kind of thing."

The new state-of- the-art technology also comes with ergonomically correct workstations, housed in a new communications area.

Zimmerman said the upgrade is meant to make communicators feel more comfortable during their 12-hour shifts.

It's a stressful job. And you need to be able to multitask, he said.

It's not a job for everyone, but it's a job that is well-respected within the police service. The communicators that we have do an exceptional job.

Zimmerman said the new hub will allow eight people to work at the same time.He expects the centre to come online by the end of the month.