Police Radio History and Innovation: What Have We Learned?
Travis J. Brown · 2014
The history of electronically-assisted police communications began with the telegraph and telephone, eventually evolving into wireless radio. Innovators recognized telegraph as a way to send information from one location to law enforcement officials in another venue. Telegraph and telephone development in the 19th century brought about the first dispatching from a base station to the field. Police officers no longer had to respond to the department to receive calls for service. The use of radio transmissions began as a way for officers to receive information, but soon transformed the policing world when two-way communications became available. Radio improved over the years with the advent of secure digital frequencies and portable units capable of switching between many different channels. With modern computer technology and truncated digital frequencies, police departments still suffer difficulties communicating with one another. After disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the 9/11 attacks, established departmental policies hinder further progress in communications. Keywords: Police communications, radio, Project 25