MPD began the process of renovating the Communications Center in November of 2012. This project would encompass moving the existing dispatch facility to an adjacent room without loss of any services to the citizens of Monroe, while engineering the removal of 30+ years of obsolete and antiquated equipment from the original location.
The FCC mandate for the 700 mhz radio system upgrade necessitated a complete overhaul of many aspects of MPD’s existing infrastructure to comply with LWIN (Louisiana Wireless Information Network) infrastructure. This new system allows extensive radio coverage of Louisiana by providing “interoperability” with other emergency agencies; MPD officers can now assist in other geographic areas using their own radios to communicate with other agencies.
The end result of this major $1.2 million project brought MPD to the forefront of dispatch facilities as the most advanced facility of its kind in northeast Louisiana.
The following gallery of images display the previous equipment used by the MPD Communications Division, as well as the new furniture and radio gear that displays the professional, modern dispatching facility that it is now.
