KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI — When Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller began his law enforcement career in 1986, police radios were like a ton of bricks, Fuller said.
But technology has come a long way since then, Fuller said at an event on Friday, May 3, aimed at showing off the office's latest communications technology.
Today's phones and radios are much smaller, but communication networks are larger and more robust. However, modern police communication technology has evolved further to ensure efficiency during a crisis.
AT&T's FirstNet is a partnership funded by Congress to provide law enforcement and other partners with “unrestricted access” to communications. Partners in the program met Friday at the Highway Commission at Kalamazoo County Headquarters to discuss how technology can help keep communications flowing when it's needed most, even during crises and large-scale events.
The partnership has been supporting the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office since 2019, Fuller said.
Emergency responders rely on the enhanced capabilities when an influx of runners and fans is sure to strain cell phone signals, such as this weekend's Kalamazoo Marathon.
FirstNet representatives showed off tools that can be used to increase police signal strength and coverage.
FirstNet's suite of communication tools includes portable cell phone towers that allow communities to call for help in times of crisis. According to Terry Darden, a solutions executive for his FirstNet client at AT&T, the tower can be operated by one person and can be up and running within 20 minutes.
The company also showed off a satellite phone that can be used in locations where no signal is available. Darden also mentioned airships that could be used to cover areas with signals during disasters.
The airship can cover an area of 100 square miles and provide network connectivity.
“You don't want to see that blimp,” Durden said, because blimps are usually used after major incidents.
He said authorities launched airships in places like Florida in response to Hurricane Ian in 2022.
“It helps public safety personnel communicate effectively in situations where communication is difficult,” Darden said.
Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Deputies use FirstNet on their department-issued smartphones, tablets, and in their vehicles. The Kalamazoo County Highway Commission also uses his FirstNet on smartphones and tablets.
Lt. Megan Maltz of the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office said the network's coverage helps officers stay in touch with supervisors and other members of the department. She showed how to view a live feed of an officer's body camera on a laptop in the car and upload the video to the department's evidence system.
This is useful, for example, when deputies respond to a serious vehicle accident, allowing supervisors to monitor and assist in the response in real time.
“Is there a way for me, sitting in my office, to provide resources to police officers on the road?” Maltz can quickly take action by asking himself the question while watching the video feed.
U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland) saw the technology firsthand while sitting in the passenger seat of a sheriff's office cruiser. Huizenga said he supported the FirstNet legislation passed by Congress in 2012 and is excited to see the technology used.
“Congress has put about $7 billion into this,” Huizenga said. “That was the controversial part.”
He said the priority was to keep the communications network well-functioning.
Huizenga said AT&T won the contract in 2017 and the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office was an early adopter.
Looking to the future, Fuller said people might imagine technologies like flying cars. But he thinks about communication.
“In the future, we're going to have connectivity with everything we do in the vehicle,” Fuller said, adding that FirstNet technology will help officers work more efficiently. He described it as a “force augmentation device.''
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