 SUMMARY
Executive Dow Constantine and government partners from throughout King County announced the launch of the new Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network – the updated and expanded radio system used for first responders and emergency dispatch communications.
STORY
King County Executive Dow Constantine joined today mayors of King County cities and fire and police agencies to announce the launch of the new Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network (PSERN), funded by a voter-approved ballot initiative in 2015. The new digital system allows first responders, particularly police and fire, to better communicate and dispatch emergency and other government services countywide. It has improved coverage, and the ability to update the system and security over traditional analog radio systems.
The PSERN Project was a regional partnership between King County and 11 of its cities – Auburn, Bellevue, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Redmond, Renton, Seattle, and Tukwila. The project also had three oversight and advisory boards established to oversee the construction, upgrades, deployment, and transition of new technology and equipment to 140 customer agencies including police and fire, dispatch centers, cities, hospitals, utility districts, and other government users.
“Clear and reliable communication in the moment of an emergency is essential to saving lives,” said Executive Constantine. “This new network greatly improves first responders’ ability to dispatch critical services quickly when and where they’re needed.”
The system update was comprised of several multi-faceted projects:
- Upgrading equipment from analog to digital systems at hundreds of locations throughout the county
- Executing equipment upgrades and creation of new locations for 61 radio sites
- Installing and transitioning equipment to the new system at 19 dispatch centers
- Coordinating the migration of antenna systems repeating the PSERN signals in nearly 800 buildings
- Educating customer agencies and other impacted groups in the county about the system changes
Over 19,000 new radios for emergency communications and daily operations have been distributed to police, fire, and other government users who transitioned to the new system.
“Firefighters in our region utilize radios thousands of times per day at emergency responses to relay tactical information. Whether it’s communicating internally within our own agencies or sharing information with partners at law enforcement, dispatch centers, hospitals, and more, having a reliable radio system is critical to our shared mission of saving lives and protecting property,” said Seattle Fire Chief Harold Scoggins. “With PSERN in place, we have enhanced our regional radio interoperability, added back-end redundancies, and have improved the radio tower coverage area. This new system will carry us well into the future.”
“The enhancements to the PSERN radios are a valuable improvement to the resources at our disposal and highlight our commitment to bolstering public safety on all fronts,” said King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall. “These state-of-the-art tools empower us to enhance our service to the community, ensuring rapid and effective communication for the safety and well-being of all.”
“When dialing 9-1-1, the phone is the initial lifeline to connect with emergency services. In the same way, PSERN is the lifeline for police, fire, and EMS responders and their dispatchers in the 911 Center,” said Vonnie Mayer, Executive Director for Valley Communications Center. “Because seconds matter, all radio transmissions must be delivered clearly, the first time, every time. This new state-of-the-art, digital radio system allows first responders in the field and in the 911 Center to work together to coordinate the help that is needed in an emergency.”
As part of the final milestone for the project, Motorola successfully completed a series of system upgrades and final testing, and ownership and management of the system were transitioned to the new PSERN Operator agency in December 2023. The new agency is now a separate entity.
“The completion of the PSERN Project marks the beginning of a new era for emergency communications in King County,” said Mike Webb, Executive Director for the newly established PSERN Operator. “PSERN is significantly more resilient, sustainable, and secure than the systems it replaced. It will be maintained and operated by a dedicated organization that is directly accountable to its users.”
The project was completed with a $6.5M surplus ahead of the levy ending this year.
RELEVANT LINKS
QUOTES
“Clear and reliable communication in the moment of an emergency is essential to saving lives. This new network greatly improves first responders’ ability to dispatch critical services quickly when and where they’re needed.” - Dow Constantine, King County Executive
“Firefighters in our region utilize radios thousands of times per day at emergency responses to relay tactical information. Whether it’s communicating internally within our own agencies or sharing information with partners at law enforcement, dispatch centers, hospitals, and more, having a reliable radio system is critical to our shared mission of saving lives and protecting property. With PSERN in place, we have enhanced our regional radio interoperability, added back-end redundancies, and have improved the radio tower coverage area. This new system will carry us well into the future.” - Harold Scoggins, Seattle Fire Chief & PSERN Operator Board Chair
“The enhancements to the PSERN radios are a valuable improvement to the resources at our disposal and highlight our commitment to bolstering public safety on all fronts. These state-of-the-art tools empower us to enhance our service to the community, ensuring rapid and effective communication for the safety and well-being of all.” - Patti Cole-Tindall, King County Sheriff
“When dialing 9-1-1, the phone is the initial lifeline to connect with emergency services. In the same way, PSERN is the lifeline for police, fire, and EMS responders and their dispatchers in the 911 Center. Because seconds matter, all radio transmissions must be delivered clearly, the first time, every time. This new state-of-the-art, digital radio system allows first responders in the field and in the 911 Center to work together to coordinate the help that is needed in an emergency.” - Vonnie Mayer, Executive Director, Valley Communications Center
“The completion of the PSERN Project marks the beginning of a new era for emergency communications in King County. PSERN is significantly more resilient, sustainable, and secure than the systems it replaced. It will be maintained and operated by a dedicated organization that is directly accountable to its users.” - Mike Webb, Executive Director, PSERN Operator
“I am so pleased that our first responders in the Puget Sound now have state of art communications, updated equipment, and a centralized system to respond to emergencies. A project of this magnitude and the collaboration needed to reach completion cannot be understated. Most importantly, we must thank the voters in King County for saying yes to this investment that will ultimately impact the safety and well-being of our communities in the years to come." - Nancy Backus, City of Auburn Mayor
“PSERN is a state-of-the-art digital radio system that allows all Bellevue city departments and regional partners to talk to one another. This is critical for the safety of our first responders and community and is a testament to our commitment to using innovative technologies and collaboration to improve public safety.” - Lynne Robinson, City of Bellevue Mayor
“Thanks to the voter approval of the Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network in 2015, we have amplified our collaborative commitment to safety, ensuring that the communication waves are standardized for our first responders and connect us all in times of crisis. This successful network upgrade and expansion is a testament to our shared vision, dedication, and unity to protecting our region for many decades.” - Jim Ferrell, City of Federal Way Mayor
“Today’s announcement is an excellent example of governments collaborating to get the job done. After the voters approved PSERN, the agency partners made it happen. We have delivered on our commitment to the voters, and our first responders, residents, and businesses are safer because of this extraordinary teamwork.” - Kelli Curtis, City of Kirkland Mayor
“Stronger, more robust communication allows our first responders to provide help quickly and safely, especially in times of an emergency. This collective effort is a win for our communities, and a testament to our region’s strength in collaborative partnership.” - Salim Nice, Mayor, City of Mercer Island
“PSERN is an excellent example of what we can accomplish together as a region through collaboration and innovation. Through the dedication of our public safety professionals and vision of local leaders in EPSCA and throughout King County we are able to better serve the people of our communities with this improved communication infrastructure.” - Angela Birney, City of Redmond Mayor
"Communication during an emergency is vital. As part of our commitment to public safety for the citizens of Renton, this regional partnership ensures the continuity and reliability of our radio network in times of distress. We are proud to support our ValleyCom partner cities in this endeavor.” - Armondo Pavone, City of Renton Mayor
“This upgrade of a 20-year-old radio system ensures that emergency responders in Seattle and throughout King County have the tools they need to protect our community and collaborate effectively. I am proud of the inter-agency collaboration by the City of Seattle, King County, and our regional stakeholders for working together and delivering this new public safety network on time and under budget. I want to thank the voters for approving the levy funds that were critical to the success of this project.” - Bruce Harrell, City of Seattle Mayor
“The City of Tukwila is excited to be a part of PSERN as it unites first responders across King County to enhance safety for all.” - Thomas McLeod, City of Tukwila Mayor
FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES, CONTACT: Kimberly Nuber, PSERN Project, 206-263-5865
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