Law Enforcement

As the nation continues to face the effects of COVID-19, call centers have had adjust their operations in order to maintain communications for 9-1-1 and 3-1-1 calls, while keeping their employees safe. Thanks to FirstNet, the Office of Unified Communications has been able to continue operating safely and securely.

As a former Sheriff and elected official in the state of Minnesota, Richard Stanek has been engaged in public safety communications at the local, state, and national levels throughout his career. From working on a statewide LMR network to setting up a state-of-the-art 911 center to serving six years on the FirstNet Authority Board, he has seen firsthand how technology can help first responders do their jobs safer and more efficiently.

Priority and preemption allow first responders to remain connected to FirstNet, even in times of high network congestion, and the FirstNet Authority is continually testing these features to ensure their functionality. Public safety agencies in Canton and Stark County, Ohio and Derry, New Hampshire have experienced the difference priority and preemption make in every day operations and emergency incidents.

This is the sixth entry in a blog series that will explore the six FirstNet Authority Roadmap domains. You can also learn about the Core, Coverage and Capacity, Situational Awareness, Voice Communications and Secure Information Exchange domains by downloading the full Roadmap at firstnet.gov/Roadmap.

In March 2020, several tornadoes tore across middle Tennessee. In Putnam County, 80 miles outside of Nashville, an EF-4 tornado caused major damage to structures and a public safety radio tower. With communications severely limited, state and local first responders turned to FirstNet for coverage from deployables and push-to-talk on smartphones.

When a violent tornado hit northeast Arkansas in March 2020, it caused major destruction to homes, businesses, and a shopping mall, mangling vehicles, damaging an airport, and derailing a train. Despite the wreckage, FirstNet kept first responders connected and communicating throughout the storm and its aftermath.

The FirstNet Authority released a statement in support of the National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and AT&T’s alliance to educate members on FirstNet, the nationwide public safety broadband network.

Connecting to tools and resources is vital for law enforcement agencies. With FirstNet, officers and deputies in rural and remote areas have increased access to the databases and systems they need. Harry Markley, FirstNet Authority Senior Law Enforcement Advisor, highlights how three agencies are using FirstNet to maximize operations and improve incident outcomes.

Every spring, we honor the courage, dedication, and sacrifices of those in the fire service, law enforcement, emergency medical services, and emergency telecommunicator communities, as well as our nation’s public servants.

Home to mountain ranges and forested areas, Washington County, Oregon presents communications challenges for local public safety. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office relies on FirstNet to stay connected with deputies, citizens, and dispatch centers.

The Cranford Police Department in New Jersey trialed FirstNet Push-to-Talk, a service built on 3GPP mission critical push-to-talk standards. This service provided officers with an easy-to-use system with clearer voice quality and wider coverage area than traditional land mobile radios.

A tornado struck Carbon Hill, Alabama in March 2020, causing significant damage to the community. The city lost all of the radio repeater equipment used by the Carbon Hill Police Department, but they were ready with FirstNet as a backup. 

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon uses FirstNet on cell phones and mobile data computers to better protect a community of 600,000 people spread out in mostly rural areas.

At the 2020 Winter Institute Workshop and Exercise, hosted by the Texas A&M University’s Internet2 Technology Evaluation Center, public safety officials practiced integrating new technologies, including a FirstNet deployable, into disaster operations during a simulated cyberattack. Participants included unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) teams from Florida State University, which integrated their UAS with the deployable to share information with command posts.

First responders rely on dogs for many tasks that no human or technology can do. As K9 units continue to proliferate across public safety, industry is designing new technologies to keep them safe and increase their effectiveness. Many of these technologies require a reliable, secure broadband connection to function properly.

Knoxville Fire and Rescue in Iowa subscribed to the network in order to address existing communications gaps. 

The Muleshoe Police Department in Texas uses FirstNet to run duty phones and tablets, enhancing communications and improving interoperability.

New Hampshire's first responders got a major boost in their wireless communications with the addition of four new, purpose-built cell sites, as well as more than 100 other network enhancements. The sites are part of the FirstNet network expansion and will bring increased coverage, capacity, and capabilities to first responders across the state.

Officers with the Troy Police Department in New York rely on FirstNet for a differentiated emergency communications experience in the city’s densely populated urban setting. FirstNet’s priority and preemption service allows officers to stay connected, make calls, and send and receive information securely without signal delay or disruption.