The Washington State Patrol says it is saving some $12 million by linking to a federal radio network rather than building its own system to conform with federal requirements.
But the upgrade might add new costs for other law-enforcement agencies that want to keep talking to the patrol.
The patrol at times dispatches for wildlife enforcement officers and state park rangers, and it promises it won’t leave them behind. But those two agencies worry they will have to buy new radios or retrofit their old ones to interact with the more advanced Motorola Solutions equipment on the federal Integrated Wireless Network.
Bruce Bjork, the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s chief of enforcement, said he expects to have to buy replacements at a cost of $1.5 million.
“We believe that our current equipment will not work if they go to this IWN system,” Bjork said. “We would have to upgrade our equipment as well because we would probably have to go to the Motorola proprietary equipment and software.”
After discounts, the State Patrol is paying Motorola an average of $5,800 per radio for 2,400 radios – half for patrol cars and half worn at troopers’ hips.
Those radios work on multiple frequencies, unlike the much-less-expensive State Parks and Fish and Wildlife radios. Fish and Wildlife pays about $3,500 for car radios and about $1,500 for the handheld versions, Bjork said.
State Parks pays about $3,000 for handheld radios and would expect to pay about that much if it had to replace its equipment, at a total cost of between $1 million and $2 million, said Robert Ingram, State Parks’ law-enforcement chief.
If the agency can retrofit its old radios instead, Ingram said, it might cost just $250,000 – but he said that hinges on their radios being eligible for upgrades and Motorola being willing to let other companies’ devices tap into its proprietary technology.
Bob Schwent, commander of the State Patrol’s electronic services division, said he has tried to reassure the agencies that while they may have some costs, replacement won’t be necessary.
“We’re not going to leave them high and dry,” Schwent said.
Designers of the new system will find a way to accommodate other agencies, he said. And WSP will keep parts of its old system even as it pays Motorola for new equipment.
“We continue to make that commitment with them, but they are justifiably concerned,” Schwent said.
Keeping old equipment means the State Patrol will have to maintain it, as well as spending what Schwent said will be about $150,000 a year maintaining the new system.
Jordan Schrader: 360-786-1826
jordan.schrader@thenewstribune.com
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.