City Unveils New $1.1 Million Communication System

As a few final adjustments were made last week, the city unveiled its new, state-of-the-art dispatch center in the Lakewood Police Department.

The new dispatch center was the last piece of the city's $1.1 million overhaul of the communication platform for the police, fire and public works departments.

The upgrade — part of an FCC mandate — also comes with new digital radio equipment that allows departments to more effectively talk to each other and other communities.

Essentially, police officers and firefighters can communicate with each other — from just about anywhere. 

The project's total price tag was about $1.1 million, but $325,000 was paid for with grants, according to the finance department.

The city’s new $550,000 communications hub will dispatch for both the police and fire departments. 

The dispatch center — which had been “completely gutted” and temporarily moved to the basement — has large monitors on the wall showing live video feeds from around the city.

There’s also new radio equipment on the roof of the building.

“It’s going to be very helpful because this new radio system is digital, so it’s very clear and gets us in line with FCC requirement,” said Lakewood Police Capt. Gary Stone.

“This modern equipment will take us through the years to come.”

The city is now using a “P-25” MARCs system, so residents using a police scanner may need to buy a new one.

The police department will now have the ability to communicate more effectively with the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, MetroParks, RTA, Ohio Highway Patrol and other communities.

Good news for the fire department, as well. 

“The new radio system allows the fire department to have interoperable radios frequencies with all of the other west shore communities,” said Lakewood Fire Chief Scott Gilman.

“By going with the system, the city does not have to buy an infrastructure consisting of base radios and repeaters,” Gilman added. “The city used to have multiple repeaters located around the city. We now only own and maintain our portable and mobile radios.”