Wednesday, November 16, 2005
KETCHUP TYME - HOT DOG !
My thoughts on IF I WERE IN CHARGE… at the bottom !
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Why is it up to me ? Do you as a police or fireman in Westmoreland County (WC) want this choppy digi-crap filled echo chamber as your permanent radio system or would you like to get the system you were promised, one that will work in this area.
I want to clear the record for those in doubt about my intentions.
Two things I have never said.
First is that Motorola is a bad company.
Second is that I am trying to take a new system away from you and force you back into using your old radio equipment.
Both are lies, farces, and misconfigurcrapola !
Motorola Equipment for the most part is good however in my honest opinion the crap that Motorola or their agents unloaded on WC is pathetic and criminal !
From what I understand Motorola’s agents also used “scare” tactics on the Commissioners and Firemen in order to make this multi-million dollar communications sale to the county.
I believe the phrase I heard the most from firemen is “if you don’t buy this system your firemen will die”. That is how it was quoted to me by one fire chief.
I believe it is the other way around… if you DO use this system someone will end up dead. Hell, just on the 11th of this month, only a few days ago half the system went down !
Anyhow. The idea of me trying to take a system that is suppose to be better away from the Police, EMS services and Fire is outrageous ! I am trying to get you a BETTER system, one that is made for this county and it’s terrain, none of this 800 Mhz bull tihs.
A lot of people do not know that you can get all the features you have now at frequencies other than 800 Mhz. Some people are under the impression that if we move off of 800 Mhz you will lose the emergency button, encryption and text messaging, etc… not true. This can all be accomplished at 150 Mhz and 400 Mhz just as well. What you will gain by switching is CLEAR AUDIO !
So, again I ask. Why is it up to me ?
If you want this radio system to be corrected, YOU better jump on the band wagon with me soon before it is too late and we can’t go back on Motorola and the installing companies for their “wonderful” workmanship.
Most all of the mobile and base antennas are installed wrong, vehicle grounding is incorrect on every vehicle I’ve seen, wiring is poor to caveman like and HAS CAUSED FIRES ALREADY, antenna connectors falling out of the back of the radios, you name it ! These things can legally be corrected but not if you sit on your duff too much longer.
Some attorney will say to you “All of this could have been corrected at no charge to you if you would have only contacted me a year ago”.
To those that want to remain anonymous, think HARD about coming out in the open soon. What we are going to need is people in high places that know this radio system is a real killer, and someday soon it will end up killing a WC cop, fireman or citizen of this county. Your name is going to have to be used at some point (with your permission, of course) !
I have never disclosed any of my anonymous sources, that is why those dispatchers, police and fire chiefs trust me !
Once we get enough people to form a group we can go after the WC COUNTY COMMISSIONERS to take action on this system. Of course Commissioner Tom Balya would have to abstain as I believe HE is mixed up in all this mess.
He HEADS the committee for this system and of course HE believes that everything is just perfect.
In fact, to quote his office… “ I remain convinced that the system is operationally effective, is meeting all expectations, is superior to the previous radio system, and is, without question, a WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT. As always, we will continue to monitor developments in this and all other areas of our emergency management program to continually improve the county’s public safety posture. “
My response is this:
Commissioner Balya has no way of monitoring the public safety’s posture. He only knows what Rich Matason and Mark Brammell tell him. Third, HE still does not believe there have been any (DOCUMENTED) CRASHES of this system. Forth, when a tower CRASHES and two police portables cannot talk 10 feet apart or to the 911 dispatch center, how is that superior to the previous radio system.
Fifth, please detail what Worthwhile Investment means in your play book.
If that means 911 Management gets to drive new vehicles around without paying for fuel and maintenance, and Rich and Mark get to dine FREE on the counties money and drive the Command Center whenever the mood strikes them, and get to carry BlackBerry Cell Phones that we purchased for them and we pay the monthly bills, and … and … and… then perhaps that means it is a Worthwhile Investment.
I'm wondering, do the WC Judges, Domestic Relations Case Workers, Clerks, and Janitors get their own vehicles to drive around ? I've never checked into that.
There is a Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Tenth reason but I didn’t want to bore you. Reason Nine is on PAID vacation with One and his other brother One.
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November has brought a bunch of new information if you care to review the Blah-gs.
Stuff like Dan Stevens using his brand new BLUE FORD F350 $40,000 county vehicle for personal use when in fact he is suppose to be carrying special tables and chairs for Westmoreland County Command issues like when they need Hazmat or a command center set up some where. Everyone gets there and no Dan, no tables and no chairs. Hmmm, that is not very nice. I’m sure most of you are familiar with a Ford F150 truck, pretty nicely built and BIG, huh ? Then some of you have seen the F250 series Ford trucks, REAL BIG and full of room.
Dan has an F350 and I know what that is full of ! Wow !! ( btw, I originally said Brown truck just to see if anyone was reading… I had TWO WC 911 dispatchers correct me, thanks for reading ! )
Also covered was the fact that three of the top dogs at WC 911 including Mark Brammell are also three of the top dogs at the Harrison City Fire Department. No coincidence there as Mark is the assistant chief at Harrison City Fire Dept. and Deputy Director at 911.
So it would seem that if you want a job at 911 then you have to move to Harrison City and join their fire department ! Does that mean that if Mark becomes Chief of Station 87 he will also become Director of 911, or versa visa ?
If Mark ever becomes President of The United States would he also make himself head of the Department of Homeland Security too ?
Most antennas that have already been mounted on emergency vehicles in WC by Staleys and other companies are in violation of just about every safety rule and regulation in every book including OSHA.
First Responders are subjecting themselves to harmful 800 Mhz radiation just because the antennas are mounted incorrectly. It’s kinda like the older State Police officers who are now complaining of getting CANCER from using those early radar guns.
Same thing boys and girls… if you are a young fireman now you might become an old fireman with CANCER. You’ve been warned. Just ask one of these older radar troopers next time you see them, they have only a few teeth left and most are balding and have aching joints. OH but don't worry, I'm sure you will still have your radios...
What else was new ?
Oh, Staley Communications AFTER about 11 months finally picked up Markle Fire Department’s base radio for repair. I’ve only been writing about that for about 6 months but the problem isn’t solved yet… the radio was picked up, NOT REPAIRED yet. My guess is that the radio will be replaced with a refurb from a system taken out of service in Ohio or Texas. Never know.
Some refer to this as FUBAR !
There is going to be a ton of these refurbished 800 Mhz radios laying around in about a year as most everyone that has a system like ours are throwing them away for a system that actually works !
The battery life of a portable has been reported to be only a few hours if that. One fire department, Station 114 has been complaining that the batteries they were given on their NEW radios will not hold a charge.
Again I think all of their complaining is falling on deaf ears. One of the problems with this 800 Mhz equipment is that even though you physically turn off the radio, the radio is still on. Yes, power is still going into the radio to keep things like the micro-processor running.
Sucks huh ?
Sucks about as much as Bill Fleming talking to the Department in the encrypted mode at about 9 AM yesterday morning. Long winded, WOW. Bill talked in what he thinks is a secure mode of communications. My oh my.
Police especially are making too big a deal over this secure encrypted transmission mode of communications. It is NOT.
I have posted three new audio files to my website yesterday and if I get a chance I have some photos I would like to get posted too.
You have to realize folks, unlike Mark and Rich I don’t make money off of the Westmoreland Defartment of Pubic Service, this is all a labor of love. Even the web space cost me money !
At least I don't have to pay for all those copies of the Blah-g that are printed out at 911 for the dispatchers to read (well, at least one is printed... the printer must be broke again !).
You know what really SUCKS ?
The fact that this system is suppose to work and it’s stuck on BROKE.
Being a Radio Engineer you would think that I would know several other Radio Engineers. Just so happens that I do. The fact that not one of us think that this system is any good SHOULD tell you something and that again is FREE ADVICE !
Could this system be made to work like Director Rich Matason has PREACHED to all the fire and police chiefs in Westmoreland County ?
NO.
Could this system cost us another 15 Million Dollars and continue to have the same problems it is having now ?
YES.
Just ask Commissioner Tom Balya why he keeps signing checks for this ytihs Radio Cystem, maybe he can give you a good enough answer that you might believe…
Like for example:
it’s working great, or we just need to update the software, or we aren’t having any problems, or we are just expanding the triple optic reversal trans-line so that it matches the rebound reflector hub providing us with comprehensive dual junctions. Hmmm….
These guys know how to BS, after all they ran for office, right ?
Remember, our radio system did a HALF / CRASH on November 11th ! It was also having problems this AM at around 3:30 AM for the District 5 Police Departments. Ah, but that's par for the course.
The radio system that thought it could... just keep repeating, I think I can, I think I can, DEAD SPOTS, I think I can, I think I can, DEAD SPOTS....
On the 17th we will be pulling a name out of the trusty PA LOTTERY HAT to see who wins the audio clips CD in our tips and comments monthly contest, have you entered yet ?
All you have to do is send me your comments or inside tip ( like all the names of the dispatchers and their email addresses, or what kind of snacks are up at 911 in the kitchen (I think Peggy does all the cooking), or how about sending me a software manual for the system software… weird antenna mountings on your police car, you know… neat stuff like that ) and you will be entered for that month to win the CD. Shipping and Handling is FREE.
It is your TIPS and COMMENTS that make this Blah-g as successful as it is. This Blah-g is for you, the first responders and citizens of Westmoreland County ! Enjoy.
SPECIAL COMMENT:
If I would happen to fall into a position to have CONTROL over our 911 system, this is what I would do and how I would run it.
First and foremost I would give both Rich Matason and Mark Brammell their walking papers with my thanks.
I would then appoint Joe Neidzalkoski as 911 Director and there is one Dispatcher (not named at this point) that I would elevate to the Deputy Director Position.
Now I know that Joe N. does not want the job of director however he would surely fill in until reorganization could be completed.
Dan Stevens would also lose his job and TRUCK.
The position of Chief Engineer would be created for a full time FCC Licensed Technician to take over the maintenance of the system and to do both normal and emergency repairs. This person must hold a FCC First Class and a Certified Electronic Technician Licenses and would be in charge of equipment, it’s operation, and maintenance.
A special 5 member group of Radio Engineers would be hired to RE-DESIGN this system to conform to the terrain of our county.
An attorney would be brought in to see what legal rights we have against Motorola and their installers for incomplete and incompetent installations. I don’t know exactly how the county works as I am not a professional elected official however Commissioner Tom Balya would have to excuse himself from his role as Commissioner in Charge of these operations, or whatever his official title might be. Commissioner Balya has been in the dark on how this system is operating and appears not to care. His involvement would not be needed or wanted.
At some point it should be looked into fortifying the current 911 building or moving the center completely to a secure location. As it stands now, anyone can walk right up to the main doors of the building and with very little effort “gain access” into the building. This is inexcusable the way it is now and the current 911 management and Commissioner Balya should be held responsible.
The 911 tower that sits at the WCDPS location would be moved to a new location or sold. It’s current location serves only as a beacon to the center’s location. It’s function at the current location is questionable plus it places critical computer equipment in hamrs way during electrical storms.
Placing that big of a tower with multi-antennas and Flashing Beacon Lights outside the operational building, plus putting the building right off a main state route and giving it an address of 911 Public Safety Drive doesn’t help HIDE it’s secure location… ah, what ?
The moving of the tower and fortifying the building could be looked at as one or separate jobs.
Wouldn’t you think that a building that dispatches the entire county’s Police, EMS, Fire, Sheriff’s and all the Deputies should have a location that isn’t as easy to find ?
If that building is compromised in anyway the 911 phones do not get answered and no one gets dispatched, right ? The tower calls attention to the site as well as lightning. When lightning strikes that antenna, WHICH IT DOES… thousands of dollars of equipment are DESTROYED every time.
911 JUST GOT DONE REPAIRING items from the last lightning strike in JULY ! This is November folks, that’s four months down time for important electronic equipment to be down. Now they get it all FIXED and READY for the next lightning strike… nice little cycle and someone profits from these repairs.
The current CAD system would be looked at. There have been too many dispatches to incorrect addresses where it is clearly NOT the dispatchers fault.
All employees would be FORCED to drive their own vehicles. The county TAXPAYERS would no longer pay for these vehicles, their maintenance and gas bills. That alone would save us hundreds of thousands of dollars !
ONLY THOSE THAT TRULY NEED A RADIO will be given one. All other radios would be collected and given out to volunteer fire departments, paid police and EMS departments second. This includes the 50 or so portable radios that are carried in the mobile command center and only used three or four times a year (and then only given to “food runners”).
ALL RADIOS would be stripped from the maintenance departments (park, courthouse) and from the road crews as well as anyone else that is NOT considered a FIRST RESPONDER. That should be well over a hundred or so radios that would also go to the Fire, EMS, and Police Departments.
Serious thought would have to be given to the Mobile Command Center as we know it.
Just having it displayed at Golf Outings, Park Events and driving "it" around Westmoreland County to show that someone, or a group of people had enough power to GET US ONE so that they should keep their positions in the county is a WASTE.
In Pittsburgh, New York City and other extremely large areas with major violence may have need for a super duper black rolling radio on chrome wheels but not us.
Not when it cost us initially OVER $600,000 PLUS PLUS PLUS and we have parents in our county that can’t afford to take their children to the doctors and elderly that have to eat cat food because they do not have enough money for real food !
We have too much money invested in that hunk of metal for it to just sit there.
The dispatchers are currently UNION, which I believe is a good idea. That would continue. Management on the other hand is NOT and can be FIRED at will. (note to the other Commissioners...)
Dispatcher and Management performance would be reviewed every six months.
Special days would be set aside for personal stress management for dispatchers. Some people do not understand how hard it is to be a dispatcher and the constant stress they are placed under. This is a new idea and would have to be studied more, however I believe it is a good idea.
Comprehensive programs for the dispatchers would be put in place to keep them up to date on proper operating procedures, stress management, topographical orientation.
NEPOTISM would NOT be allowed. ALL applicants would be given a FAIR interview and would be hired by the suggestion of a review board, NOT just one person.
And I’ve only STARTED.
As Paul Harvey would say, Good Day !
DECODED,
K3SAM
http://800.k3sam.com – website
news@k3sam.com – tips / comments / system info
