WESTFIELD–The Westfield Police improved communications with Westfield State University Police, giving the university department six portable radios to help upgrade their system.
The six radios, which were made by Motorola, are previous models that the Westfield Police Department no longer use. However, the radios will allow the Westfield State University (WSU) Police to be on the same frequency as Westfield Police. Previously, all communications between the two had to happen through telephone.
One of the Motorola radios given to WSU Police.
“They’ll get us communication and inter-operability with the city so we can talk to them, which is vital,” WSU Police chief Tony Casciano said.
WSU Police Chief Tony Casciano
The radios are digital, which is the version that more and more departments are moving toward as technology advances. The previous models that WSU Police were using were analog.
The differences between the two are based in how the signals are transmitted, with digital having the information transmitted compressed and encoded, while analog radio works by sending the information through radio waves that are sent through a transmitter to a receiver.
Some of the benefits to digital radios include better security with digital radio channels and greater range of use, as well as less interference.
Casciano said that the radios are currently not set up to allow for cross-talk between the two departments, but he did say that they are in the process of developing that connection next.
Casciano said that the radios could especially help if there was an emergency situation on the campus and Westfield Police were needed to respond. Also, it could be used for Westfield Police to request assistance from campus police if there is activity in the WSU area.
