After more than 20 years of operating on an antiquated radio system, the Vallejo Police Department (VPD) has partnered with the East Bay Regional Communications System Authority (EBRCSA) to make digital radio communications a reality.
As of April 20, 2021, the department now has brand new digital handheld and mobile radios installed in each of its patrol vehicles, a step VPD considers a “game-changer” in the continued quest to provide exceptional service to the public. New MCC7500 radio consoles have also been deployed in VPD’s dispatch center as part of the year-long project.
While VPD initiated the process to acquire new radios back in 2016, the project was delayed due to budgetary constraints. As a result, the department used substandard alternatives to either use or replace parts of the analog system, creating an extremely dangerous environment for officers on patrol.
Recognizing the inherent danger and overall need for a modern communications system, Vallejo Chief of Police Shawny Williams made the acquisition of digital radios a top priority for the department. “We want to ensure that service to the public is met with clear, concise and effective communications,” Chief Williams stated. “Our partnership with EBRCSA helps us to achieve that goal, and we are grateful for the members of our department who’ve helped to make this conversion a reality.”
The new radios provide a number of benefits to VPD, including improved call quality, sound and reception. The radios purchased also have a tri-band feature that allows VPD’s dispatch center to triage calls for service to VPD and VFD on the digital and analog formats.
The enhanced digital frequency of the radios also reduces static and increases the range of service VPD is able to provide. At 800MHz, the digital frequency is a tremendous upgrade to the radio waves used with the outdated analog system.
“EBRCSA has an extremely robust infrastructure that allows us to operate jurisdictionally in Vallejo and throughout Contra Costa and Alameda counties, where the system is based,” VPD Acting Captain Todd Tribble indicated. “In the coming months, we will be fortifying additional infrastructure to increase our effectiveness and ability to operate throughout Solano county.”
The Vallejo Police Department (VPD) would like to sincerely thank the City of Vallejo’s Chief Information Officer Naveed Ashraf and the entire information technology team for their hard work and diligence throughout this process. The Department would also like to give a special thanks to the EBRCSA Board, VPD Acting Captain Todd Tribble and Communications Manager Aimee Crutcher for their exceptional leadership in this transition.
For media inquiries, please contact Public Information Officer, Brittany K. Jackson by email at VallejoPolicePIO@cityofvallejo.net. or by phone at (707) 651-7147.