Communication Services Division
The mission of Communications Services is to provide the City of Abilene with quality service for its communication systems in the most cost effective manner, striving to improve and upgrade existing facilities and helping to develop plans to meet the growing need for more sophisticated communication systems.
The City of Abilene's two-way radio communication systems as they exist today have evolved through sixty-four years of development and growth.
Prior to 1937, the only communication with police units in the field was via telephone call boxes stationed throughout the city. A light situated atop the Wooten Hotel could be controlled from the police station. Turning on the light served to alert policemen on the beat. The policemen would then go to the nearest call box, call in, and be dispatched to the scene.
In 1937 the Police Department installed the first radio transmitter. Four receivers were installed in patrol cars and the Abilene Police Department was "on the air". The radio link was one way only. The dispatcher could talk to the cars but the cars could not respond. In 1939 transmitters were installed in cars. This provided the officers the capability to communicate with dispatch and true two-way radio communications came to the City of Abilene.
The Fire Department communication methods were modern by comparison. Fire alarm boxes were located throughout the city and connected to the Central Fire Station by wire lines. The alarm would automatically activate bells at each station and punch a ticker tape denoting the alarm location. A dispatcher who could manually activate the system in response to phone in alarms augmented the system. This system was so reliable that it was used as a backup for the radio system until the late seventies.
Many changes have occurred over the past half-century. The Communication Services Division now supports approximately 1200 radio equipped vehicles and hand held portables, not to mention the large number of peripherals such as microwave systems and remote control equipment. The City utilizes six radio systems as well as a mobile data system. The mobile data system brings a new horizon to police communications by providing the officers a wealth of information. This enables the officers to perform their duties in a safer manner by having information about a situation prior to becoming involved.
Major Duties and Functions
The Communication Services Division is located at 774 Sandy Lane and is staffed by three personnel. We may be contacted at the following email addresses:
Jerry Reiling, Communication Services Manager, jerry.reiling@abilenetx.com
Larry Pendleton, Technician III, larry.pendleton@abilenetx.com
Bobby Woodward, Technician III, bobby.woodward@abilenetx.com