Emergency communications system becomes operational in New Kent

An emergency communications system purchased by New Kent County is now operational.

New Kent County Sheriff’s Office, rescue personnel, and county officials took part in an Oct. 12 morning ceremony. The event saw the transfer of emergency personnel equipment for the sheriff’s office move onto the Harris radio system. New Kent County Schools’ transportation department was successfully transferred on Oct. 4, and New Kent Fire-Rescue is expected to be transferred within the upcoming weeks.

In April 2015, New Kent leaders opted to purchase the system at the cost of $5.5 million to improve the coverage area and assist emergency personnel. Supervisors approved a down payment of $800,000 for the system and elected to pay installments of $550,000 per year for the next ten years (which includes interest from a loan).

The project originally garnered attention in 2013 due to many emergency systems making the transition from an 800-megahertz system to a 700-800 analog/digital megahertz system. The new radio system is expected to cover 95 percent of the county, whereas the predecessor only covered 50 percent of the locality covered the system through portable radios and 80 percent was covered via mobile radios according to Michael McGannon, a manager of Wireless Systems at Consulting Engineering and Associates Inc. during a May 2014 work session with county supervisors.