April 18, 2003
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today issued Executive Directive 2003-12, which allows local law enforcement agencies to mount their own radio communications equipment on the 181 radio towers erected around the state for the Michigan Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS).
“In these days when homeland security and emergency management are among our country’s first priorities, coordination, cooperation, and communication are key,” Granholm said. “It is critical that local law enforcement agencies be able to communicate effectively with other first responders, particularly the Michigan State Police.”
Executive Directive 2003-12 instructs state department directors and agency heads to permit any governmental public safety agency to install public safety communications equipment on the MPSCS towers so long as the equipment is compatible with the state’s equipment.
The directive provides that any installation, operation, maintenance and removal costs associated with the local law enforcement equipment be paid for by the local governmental entity.
“Any action that helps our law enforcement agencies better communicate across all jurisdictions helps protect Michigan families,” Granholm said. “The reliable, clear, and complete communication services provided by MPSCS are essential in providing law enforcement and emergency personnel with fast and accurate information.”
Since 1994, the State of Michigan has invested more than $200 million to create MSPCS, a state of the art communications system for law enforcement and emergency personnel that allows Michigan State Police troopers and other government officials to talk to each other from anywhere in the state.
