Training, Exercises and Common Nomenclature Captain Eddie Reyes Alexandria, VA Police Department on detail to NIJ / CommTech Program Current First Responder Community • 2,500,000 Public Safety First Responders in the U.S. Today – 28,713 Fire and 6,034 EMS Departments (1) • 960,000 firefighters • 830,000 emergency personnel – 15,221 Law Enforcement Agencies (2) • 710,000 Law Enforcement Officers Training • The ultimate gauge for mission success! • Always include operational and support personnel(dispatchers). Vary shifts and times. • Dedicate commitment monthly when possible. It can be simple, but remember that funding and staffing are always serious considerations for large scale training • Proper notifications shall always be made to agencies being affected • Document monthly tests and distribute copies to agencies participating • Consider pocket cards for field personnel and “cheat sheets” at dispatcher consoles Training & Licensing Issues • FCC requiring local & state public safety agencies on VHF & UHF bands to migrate to narrowband by Jan. 1, 2013 • NTIA requiring federal agencies on VHF & UHF to migrate to narrowband by Jan. 1, 2008 • There are approximately 112,000 Private Wireless licenses in the public safety pool – 54% are VHF (150-174 MHz); 33% are UHF (421-512 MHz) and approximately 6% are 800 MHz (806-869) • Consensus Plan – Rebanding to begin on June 27, 2005 * Expected to last approximately 30 months * Will occur in four waves (four geographic areas) in three month intervals. * First Wave – East Coast * Second Wave – All other states except SE and certain Canadian & Mexican border states * Third Wave – Southeast * Fourth Wave – Remaining Canadian & Mexican border states. Training on Different Levels of Interoperability • Pre-programming multiple radio systems (different agencies) in compatible/similar mobile & portable subscriber units. • Interoperability Gateways: DC’s UHF / 800; Metropolitan Interoperability Radio System (MIRS) • Portable interconnect switches – normally carried in vehicles and used with portable radios • Cache of portable radios – 500 in MD & 500 in VA Cross-connect Deployment Portable Cross-connect - Used on a temporary basis to link two or more radio nets. Transportable Cross-connect - Used on a temporary basis to link to or more radio nets (turn-kay solution) Fixed Cross-connect - Used on either a permanent or a temporary basis to provide real-time on demand communication interoperability Training & Regional Committees • Training begins with establishing and nurturing public safety partnerships • Keep it focused, otherwise it can derail success if too broad • Make sure the right people are attending the meetings: Operational & Technical • Meet regularly (at least monthly) and ensure meeting information makes it to the agency head • Partnerships are awesome for leveraging technical support and operations hardware! Specific Training Focus • MOU vs. SOP • Equipment deployment protocol and testing • Standards – common language, radio programming and procurement • Experience shows equipment exists in most regions – TRAINING DOES NOT! Training Challenges • 3 P’s – People, Policy and Paperwork • Lack of funding / commitment to training • Ineffective training committees – no follow through on action items • Power struggles – disciplines, politics & animosities • Expect radio chaos during emergencies, leaders to doubt equipment. Very evident where training is weak. MIR’s Participating Agencies Low Band: • Maryland State Police • VA Dept. of Transportation VHF: • Metro Transit Police • US Capitol Police • VA State Police • US Marshal • US Customs • US Park Police •FBI • US Coast Guard (pending) UHF: • Federal Protective Service • Metropolitan Police Department • Prince Georges County, MD Fireand Police Departments • US State Department 800 MHz.: • Airport Authority Police • Arlington • Alexandria Police & Fire • Fairfax Police • Loudoun Co. Sheriff • Montgomery County, MD • Prince William County, VA Operational / Training Results to Date • Sniper Incident – October 2002 Used mobile application to link US Customs(VHF), US Marshals (VHF) and Prince William County Police (UHF). • WMD Exercise – US Federal Courthouse – February 2003 Coordinated with US Marine Corps CBIRF to achieve interoperability • Dedication of WWII Memorial in Washington, DC – May 2004 Collaborated with US Marshal’s Service, US Park Police, Metropolitan Police – DC and many state / local law enforcement officers • RapidCom 9/30 Tabletop Exercise – September 2004 Regional exercise in collaboration w/DHS SAFECOM & 19 agencies • Inauguration of the President – January 2005 Coordinated planning and deployment of public safety radio equipment for US Park Police and Metropolitan Police Department & 36 agencies Capital Wireless Integrated Network The goal of the project is to integrate transportation and public safety data and voice systems of two states plus the District of Columbia, effectively creating the first multi-state, inter-jurisdictional transportation and public safety integrated wireless network in the United States. The progress of CapWIN is being tracked at a national level as it has the potential to provide a roadmap for implementing similar networks throughout the United States and other countries. National Capital Region Data Sharing Projects/Training • Concept started 5 years ago with frustration of local detective’s and his idea to share pawn shop data • Concept was driven by local law enforcement technology committee consisting of 19 agencies that was already established • Funding made possible through collaboration with a local congressman and $1 million earmark • Through formal procurement process, vendor was identified and pilot agencies were identified • Training rolled out through “train the trainers” concept. • Almost instantaneous results with a major case made as a result of database • Currently bringing in remaining agencies • Also conducting formal needs assessment of all agencies to implement general & robust data sharing initiative modeled after ARJIS & NCIS LINX in VA Beach area For Additional Information • Check our websites –http://nlectc.org/nlectcne –http://www.nlectc.org/agile • Contact: – Captain Eddie Reyes – Alexandria Police Dept. 703-838-6360 ext, 104 eddie.reyes@alexandriava.gov