The Baxter County Sheriff’s Office is announcing that it will switch daily radio communications from analog format to digital format beginning Friday, October 12^th at 9:00 AM for all Sheriff’s Office official business. 

     New radio equipment was acquired by means of grant funding awarded to the Baxter County Office of Emergency Management several months ago.  The equipment included new mobile units for all Sheriff’s vehicles and new hand-held portable units for each deputy.

     The Sheriff’s Office began testing the new equipment in digital mode after the equipment was installed.  There were various problems encountered during the initial testing phases, but we believe all of those issues have been resolved.  During an additional period of testing over a period of several hours today, there were no problems or issues encountered with the equipment when operating in digital mode.

     The new digital equipment should significantly enhance radio communications between Sheriff’s deputies working in the field and Sheriff’s dispatchers.  Most other law enforcement agencies operating within Baxter County have also acquired radio equipment that is compatible with the Sheriff’s Office digital system, as have the area fire departments. 

     This equipment utilizes the Motorola Mototrbo digital technology.  Additional information concerning this system and technology are available on the following website:  http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/MOTOTRBO

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff