Maryland Public Safety Items

Most police work in Maryland is conducted by city police departments, county Sheriff Departments, county police departments, and the State Police. Most fire service is provided by local FDs and county FDs (the county FDs are usually a blend of volunteers and paid staff). Ambulance service is typically provided by the local fire service. 911 dispatch service is provided by countywide 911 comm centers and some city police departments.

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May 2001 - Info provided by Jason Grabill - In regards to the "smalltown" dispatch system, Maryland does it several different ways, depending on the County. In Prince Georges County, almost all of the "little" departments are dispatched thru the County Police system, depending on the "beat" they are in. The larger agencies (usually with 20 or more) have their own channels and dispatchers. (Right now, its Mt Ranier, Bladensburg, Laurel & Greenbelt). However, all those agencies not listed, also have "City" radio's, allowing them to communicate car to car, simplex. The State Police in this county do not answer calls, except on the beltway. The Sheriffs Dept does not patrol, but mans the jail.

In Carroll County, Maryland, which has 5 "small" towns, the county has a trunked system. All work off of the system, and 3 are dispatched by the State Police, Westminister (G) Barrack. (Hampstead, Manchester, & Taneytown). The other 2 (Westminister & Sykesville) have dispatchers, but work off the trunked system. 39.520 is MSP G, and is simulcast. You will hear the MSP dispatcher calling "Westminister, Hampstead" or whomever they want to dispatch. Hampstead cars are numbered in the "6000" series. The Sheriffs Department is in the process of being revamped; consequently, both MSP and the SO are dispatched to calls.

In Frederick County, the situation is very similiar; the MSP and Sheriff's Dept share calls, both responding when needed. There are only 2 "small towns", Thurmont and Brunswick. Both are dispatched thru MSP, I believe, but again, both have their own radios as well. The big city, Frederick, recently went digital.

I hope that helps, and answers your question!

May 2001 - Yes, every county in Maryland does have Sheriffs units, as well as a Maryland State Police Barrack (no 's' please). Or, a county police department. Several have all three. State police are the "primary" on the interstates. On "State" roads, it depends on the county. Out in the rural counties, the State Police work the "police" calls like domestics, neighbor dispurs, robberies, breakins, etc.

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Misc Links

Shock Trauma

Maryland Fire Net - Lots of Info

Radio Monitors of MD Website

Alan Henney's Scanner Website

Hyattsville VFD Super Website - includes DC Area Scanner Guide - ?has online audio October 2000

List of Online Maryland FDs

204 Maryland FDs Online at www.fire-ems.net - 11/99 - ?broken URL - see www.fire-ems.net

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State Agencies

MD State Police Aviation Unit - Jan, 8, 2000 - Trooper 9 = Cessna - Trooper 10 = King Air - Eagle helos of Natl Park Police come up as Troopers 11, 12, and 13 on MDSP Helo Tracking Computer System (info from Scan-dc@qth.net)

Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute - The State Fire Academy

Maryland State Fire Marshall Office

State Emergency Management Agency

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Misc Websites

Del Mar Va Peninsula FDs

Student Fire Engineers at U of Maryland has a website

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Scanner Lists - MD_scan + Maryland-IPN + Scan-DC@qth.net

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Anne Arundel County

Fire Talk Groups - Feb 2000 - has ?4 regroup groups

Dead Spots in Radio System - March 2000

800TRS has ?1 freq for FD simplex plus ?1 freq for PD simplex

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Baltimore County

Baltimore City

Baltimore has one of the highest murder rates in the USA. In 1999, over 300 people will be murdered in Baltimore.

Baltimore City Trunked Radio System per FCC info

Motorola Press Release November 1999 On Baltimore's New Trunked Radio System

Baltimore City Fire + EMS Study - May00

Pikesville VFC - good list of links

May 2001 - see www.trunkedradio.net in Info File for detailed info on Balt City FD talkgroups and channels - they have 4 simplex talkaround channels and 1 conventional "administration" repeater. (the TGs were also posted to the fireradio list)

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Carroll County

800Mhz Trunked Radio System Versus Pennsylvania 800TRS - April 2000

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Montgomery County

Montgomery County FD Official Website - has audio from Channels 1 + 2 - June 2000 - ?gone 25June00 - try www.co.mo.md.us/dfrs/ecc/radio - 05Aug00

Montgomery County Fire Dept Non-Un-Official Website - broadcasts Ch1 + Ch2 radio traffic in G2 (April 2000)

Montgomery County Public Safety Radio Systems Listings

Mont Co FD Radio Online 154.16 or try here - 12/29/99 both via NIMH ARC

County Fire Union

County Fire Union

1970s Photos by Ken ?M

May 2001 - on Scan-DC@qth.net - "portable Engine 251" is the portable radio on Engine 251 - with the new TRS coming online, each rig will have 3 or 4 portable radios - Alpha, Bravo, Cgarlie, and T for Tiller

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Prince George's County

Look for "photo album" for PG Co fire photos

June 2000 - try www.policescanner.net for online PG County Fire Radio

www.riverdalevfd.org should have PG County FD radio online - restarted in October 2000

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May 2000

PGFD MEDIA ADVISORY - Fire Equipment Removed from Station - At about 10 a.m., Thursday, May 4, 2000, the engine and ladder truck from the Hillside Volunteer Fire Department changed ownership to a bank, which held an outstanding note against the Volunteer Corporation. After several years of suffering financial hardships, the Hillside Volunteer Fire Department voluntarily compiled with ownership orders to turn over their apparatus. As had been previously announced, the station will not have their fire apparatus replaced, rather, consolidation plans with the District Heights Fire Station 26 will move forward. Ambulance service will continue from the Hillside Station and has been enhanced with the addition of a fully staffed career ambulance. There are now two basic life support ambulances that will be able to respond from the Hillside Station. Fire service will continue to be provided from the nearby fire stations in District Heights, Boulevard Heights and Capital Heights. Elected and Community leaders had been aware of the potential of this situation and have agreed with the plan to consolidate and enhance the EMS service. For any additional information contact Mark Brady, Public Information Officer, at 301-883-5220.

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Saint Marys County

Mechanicsville VFD (May00) - historical info mentions old dispatch system

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Storm Bringers Java Radio - Listen to Virginia and ?Maryland Public Safety Radio Comms Online

OLD SITE - More Internet Audio From Storm Bringer

The Correct Stormbringer Site - December 1999

The More Correct Stormbringer Site - June 2000 - has PG County Fire - this is www.policescanner.net - July 2000 - may be down to legal problems

Someone has Saint Marys County online - see the archives of the fireradio list - May 2001

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HOME

by Peter Szerlag - November 1999

Last Update - 24Jan2000 - 14Apr00 - 11June00 (Mont Co FD) - 26June00 (www.policescanner.net) - 27July00 - stormbringer ?down - Pikesville VFC - 05Aug00 - Mont Co audio - 17Oct00 - Riverdale/PG Co audio - May2001 - local PD overview + St Marys Co info + Mont Co HTs

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