New Motorola law enforcement radio system prepared for Presidential Summit in Florida.

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 2, 1994--When the leaders of 34 Latin American countries converge in Dade County Dec. 9-11 for the Presidential Summit of the Americas, communication between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies will play a vital role in its safety and success.

The communications infrastructure among the various agencies will be the Motorola 800-MHz digital radio system which recently was completed in South Florida and is awaiting Cabinet and legislative approval to be implemented state-wide.

Unlike the old two-channel analog system, the Motorola 256-channel, digital system provides state-of-the-art technical innovations, including maximized security which results from the fact that it is unable to be monitored by outside sources.

Five state agencies are part of the system -- the Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Marine Patrol, Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement, Division of Alcohol Beverages and Tobacco and the Florida Fresh Water Fish and Game Commission. All of these agencies have specific roles in the Summit law enforcement program.

But, federal and local police units must be able to communicate with the five state agencies, as well. Through special channels -- including a unique Mutual Aid Frequency -- officers will be able to talk, via a new Motorola-developed dispatch system which went into operation only a few months ago.

``The Summit will offer the first opportunity we've had to have for state and local officers to communicate with one another in a major situation,'' said Jim Chambliss of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. FDLE is responsible for coordinating the activities of agencies involved with the Summit.

The State has purchased an additional 500 radios to be used during the Summit. They will be later used in the statewide implementation of the system.

``The 800-MHz system enables state agencies to communicate with one another and the conventional Mutual Aid frequency will allow us to communicate with all other participants,'' explained Chambliss. ``The built-in Mutual Aid frequency allows officers from different jurisdictions that have different communication capabilities to talk to each other.''

According to Major Grady Carrick, of the Highway Patrol, additional manpower pulled from throughout the state will be utilized during the event for the Patrol's efforts that include motorcades and traffic details.

``The Mutual Aid frequency should work well. They (cities, counties, and state officers) will all be able to communicate with each other,'' said Major Tom Wheeler of the Division of Alcohol Beverages and Tobacco, the agency responsible for the transportation and protection of the spouses of visiting dignitaries. ``The shared communications puts more eyes out there,'' added Wheeler.

The Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission will be assisting the City of Miami Police Department, as well as other state agencies involved, while the Marine Patrol will provide security at selected waterfront locations in coordination with the Miami Police Department, United States Secret Service and the Coast Guard.

The new radio system has long range connection and versatility. ``I have talked all the way from Pompano Beach to Key West. On our old system, I could not talk five miles away, let alone 150 to 200 miles,'' said Captain Jeffrey Succi, FHP. ``It is a great supervisory tool. It allows immediate contact between a supervisor and a subordinate to handle things without other people listening, if corrective action is needed or a way to deal with a specific problem. This will be important during the Summit.''

CONTACT: Ron Levitt Associates, Coral Gables, Fla.

Ron Levitt, 305/443-3223