Douglas County prepares for communications upgrade
Technology is always changing, and staying on top of the trends is especially important for emergency responders. The better the communication, the more likely lives will be saved.
Upgrades to scanner equipment is now, not only necessary to keep workers informed in emergency situations, it's required by federal mandate.
Scanners and other dispatch equipment will go from analog to digital. It's a pricey changeover and one that's slowly but surely happening across Kansas.
Shawnee County commissioners just approved a multi-million dollar system overhaul. We're not learning that new equipment could keep the public and media out of the loop.
While Shawnee County is considering encrypting messages so only law enforcement can hear what's happening, it's not something Douglas County Emergency Communications Director Scott Ruf says he's considering.
Right now, if you have a scanner, you can hear where emergency calls are happening. Ruf believes while not all the information is useful for the public, some of it is.