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
Maryland Fire Net - Lots of Info
Hyattsville VFD Super Website - includes DC Area Scanner Guide - ?has online audio October 2000
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
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 Public Safety Radio Systems Listings
Mont Co FD Radio Online 154.16 or try here - 12/29/99 both via NIMH ARC
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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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