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Glitch snags HPD communications

Officials say the computer trouble
did not compromise public safety

Star-Bulletin staff

Two faulty computer cards caused a disruption in the Honolulu Police Department's communications system, but officials say the breakdown did not compromise public safety.

Dispatchers at HPD's main communications center on Beretania Street could hear what patrol officers in rural districts were saying but could not verbally communicate with them for several hours Tuesday night through early yesterday morning.

"At no point was there any significant breakdown in communication between officers in the field," Peter Fiorey, an Ericsson Private Radio Systems representative, said in a written statement.

HPD radio technicians were called in at 8 p.m. Tuesday. With assistance from Ericsson's field engineer, troubleshooters fixed what appeared to be a minor problem. But when problems surfaced again at about 10 p.m., dispatchers switched to an alternate system. The problem was isolated at 1 a.m.

Administrative Deputy Chief Robert Au said that dispatchers maintained communications with field officers through the use of portable and mobile radios. Au said dispatchers at district substations were able to relay information from the headquarters center to field officers.