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By Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin
The police dispatch works closely with 911. At right,
Shawna Scoggins, who has 10 years with the
department, trains Karolyne Eublera, left.

Public safety not
jeopardized by
radio glitches,
chief says

'We're quite concerned,'
Police Chief Donohue
says of the problems

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

Although the police radio system had glitches this week, the public was never in jeopardy, Police Chief Lee Donohue says.

Intermittent loud noises interfered with police communication in Leeward and Central Oahu and one officer was unable to speak directly with central dispatch for from two to five minutes Tuesday.

"We're quite concerned," about both officers' and community safety, Donohue said yesterday. The police radio system is divided into three parts -- a microwave system placed into service in 1994, 800 Megahertz radio and mobile data computer, he said.

Recent trouble has occurred in the microwave setup, Donohue said. "We don't know what the problem is on this. ... We are still experiencing some interference on the microwave."

One theory is it could be caused by military exercises, either RIMPAC or activity at Lualualei, Donohue said.

Station radio systems at Waianae, Pearl City and Wahiawa operate independently, he said.

Communications specialists were sent to these places, and continuing effort is under way to improve microwave system performance, Donohue said. He has spoken with other chiefs from other jurisdictions who also report bugs in it, he said.

The patrol division of Honolulu Police Department is still on the old analog system, he said. If an emergency occurred with the microwave, a dispatcher would take over at Waianae, Wahiawa or Pearl City, "right from there" on the reliable backup system, Donohue said.