Florida's Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS) completed

In Tallahassee, the State Technology Office, state law enforcement officials and representatives from M/A-COM recently announced the cutover to the Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS), which is using 800 MHz radio technology to provide state law enforcement agencies with a single common radio network. The network covers 35,615 square miles, from Nassau County to Collier County.

"We have created an incredible public/private partnership, with a common goal of improving officer and public safety through a reliable and cost-efficient shared communications system," said state Chief Information Officer Kim Bahrami.

"For the first time, thousands of state law enforcement officers in 17 counties are finally getting the chance to communicate instantaneously in the field," said Col. Graham Fountain, vice-chairman of the SLERS taskforce and director of the Office of Motor Carrier Compliance.

In addition, agency-specific small dispatch centers are now being consolidated into larger centers serving multiple agencies, which are able to share resources and eliminate duplication of efforts by dispatchers. The dispatchers are cross-trained to respond to the needs of all agencies and Floridians. Regional Communication Centers are located in Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Fort Myers and Tampa.

It is estimated the entire project covering all counties in the state will be completed in 2005. Florida is expected to save approximately $622 million over 20 years. Phase V, covering 16 additional counties, is slated to become operational in spring 2004. Work will then begin on replacing the old system in segments of Central and South Florida.