Motorola Solutions has announced that Oakland County in Michigan has successfully implemented a new P25 Radio System, bolstering public safety and emergency response capabilities across the region.

Integrated into the Michigan Public Safety Communication System (MPSCS), this radio system ensures seamless communication for first responders within the county and beyond, according to the company.

Limitations of the previous radio system, which began operating in 2005, posed significant challenges for first responders, with coverage gaps emerging shortly after crossing county lines, as well as dead spots within Oakland County itself.

However, the introduction of the new P25 Radio System marks a transformative moment in public safety communication and ensures residents receive excellent public safety services. 

A new radio system

The Oakland County Board of Commissioners gave their full support for the updated system, appropriating $61 million to place more than 6,000 Motorola radios in the hands of Oakland County’s first responders and upgrading 20 dispatch centers to accommodate the new radio system.

Features include a GPS locator for the emergency button, a recording system that records all radio traffic and two additional channels that enable first responders from a variety of agencies to work together more efficiently.

“Without gaps in coverage, our first responders can help residents no matter where they’re responding to an emergency and we are better protecting those who protect us,” said Oakland County Commissioner Penny Luebs of Clawson.

“This was a no-brainer to the Board of Commissioners, which was why we supported the upgraded system.

“It’s great to see it fully implemented around the county and improving safety for residents.”

This system not only bridges communication gaps within the county but also extends connectivity and uninterrupted radio coverage for the county’s first responders statewide.

It also eliminates the need for dispatchers to set up cumbersome patches, the company says. 

Additionally, Motorola Solutions highlights that the new Oakland County P25 Radio System supports 41 fire departments, 34 police agencies and seven public safety agencies.