History and Government Faculty Publications

Managing Interoperable Communications

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-2013

Journal Title

Law and Order

Volume

61

Issue

4

First Page

24

Last Page

27

Abstract

Every local law enforcement agency must plan for communications interoperability to effectively manage an emergency within their jurisdiction. What is the “best practices” way for a local jurisdiction to effectively address the challenges of public safety communications interoperability?

The goal of interoperability is to facilitate effective communication among various agencies in an emergency situation. One challenge in establishing interoperability is the decentralized nature of law enforcement in the United States. Most critical infrastructure is made up of local agencies, meaning infrastructure differs in each city and the federal government will not get involved in an emergency situation until it is asked to do so.

Four factors inhibit agencies from communicating: 1) incompatible communications technology, 2) limited planning in updating and incorporating communications technology, 3) limited and fragmented radio spectrums, and 4) lack of coordination and cooperation between agencies.

Keywords

Law enforcement

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