Public Safety Communications Upgrades

The City of Portsmouth Public Safety Communications Upgrades include the transformation of our existing public safety communication system to a reliable and interoperable P25 LMR communication system with upgraded equipment (radios and handhelds) to be used by the City’s public safety personnel for emergency response.  The recently completed first phase of the project included an upgrade of the P25 LMR communication system that included the addition of a 2nd city-owned communications tower.  Replacement of the older hand-held and portable P25 radio equipment is the next phase of this project.  The LMR technology is critically important for the Portsmouth Police Department, Fire Department, Sheriff Department, and local emergency medical services (EMS) to respond to an emergency event within the City of Portsmouth and Hampton Roads area efficiently and effectively.   It is necessary that the City of Portsmouth public safety personnel be able to communicate with multi-jurisdiction agencies at the federal, state, and local levels. 

This project aims to address the critical communication required of emergency response agencies and personnel to protect the public’s safety and security in the event of an emergency.  The communications upgrades will increase the reliability and effectiveness for communication when conducting interagency and intergovernmental operations.   It will also offer social benefits by ensuring peace-of-mind with a more reliable emergency response system and options for better real-time communication during an event.  This project is crucial in the City’s continued effort to protect lives and prevent potential damage to property.