Washington County Invests Over $15 Million in Public Safety Radio Upgrades

HAGERSTOWN, MD News (6/14/2024) – Washington County Board of Commissioners, in collaboration with Washington County Wireless Communications, has announced the successful upgrade of its public safety radio system to Project 25 (P25) Phase 2 technology. This state-of-the-art digital radio system significantly enhances communication and coordination for first responders. The comprehensive upgrade project consists of two stages, with the first $1.85 million phase of the radio system core completed on November 8, 2023. The second $13.5 million phase is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2025. Funding for this Capital Improvement Project was primarily allocated from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) received during the COVID-19 pandemic and through Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) funding procured by the Washington County Division of Emergency Services (DES).

The new P25 system replaces the county’s legacy Motorola Astro P25 Phase 1 system, which had been in service since 2009. Major hardware and software components of the old system were no longer supported by the manufacturer. This upgrade ensures that public safety officials, including law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services, have reliable and efficient communication tools to respond to emergencies and protect the community. All ten of the Washington County P25 RF transmission sites are now linked together with a state-of-the-art Ethernet Backbone network featuring diverse path capabilities.

In addition to the core radio system upgrade, 1,000 portable law enforcement and Fire/EMS radios will be replaced. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office will receive 165 APX NEXT portable radios. DES, all Washington County volunteer and paid staff Fire and EMS stations, and the Hagerstown Fire Department will receive 770 of the new Motorola APX NXT XN portable radios, which are NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 1802 compliant. These radios were designed with Fire/EMS first responders in mind, having passed rigorous durability and heat testing. They are among the most technologically advanced first responder radios globally. Additionally, DES and HFD will receive 65 Motorola APX NXT XE portable radios, robust yet tailored for Fire/EMS administrators. These radios will be distributed to all stations based on apparatus and staffing needs.

The distribution of the WCSO radios is currently underway, with completion scheduled by the end of August 2024. The Fire/EMS radio distribution is set to begin in July 2024, with completion expected by the end of Fall 2024.

The P25 system includes several key features to enhance public safety operations. It employs digital voice technology, providing clear and crisp voice communications that reduce interference and noise. The radios are capable of changing channels through voice commands, which eliminates the need to access the radio manually, even from within protective gear. The LTE capability allows administrators to update radio programming without the time-consuming task of individually accessing each device. Enhanced security is ensured through advanced encryption and authentication protocols, safeguarding communication. The system’s interoperability enables seamless communication with other agencies and jurisdictions, facilitating a unified response to emergencies, even when different frequency bands are used. Priority dispatching is another feature, ensuring that critical situations are addressed promptly. Additionally, the GPS locating function broadcasts the location of the radio during push-to-talk, allowing dispatch centers to quickly identify the user’s location in an emergency.

The upgrade was achieved through a collaborative effort between Washington County, local public safety agencies, and Motorola Solutions. The second stage of the project is ongoing but is on track to be completed on time and within budget, with minimal disruption to public safety services.

Story by multiple RFHC contributors