State police believe a lost or stolen portable radio or other electronic device was used to make false radio transmissions to the Litchfield County dispatch center for nearly two weeks, beginning Christmas Day.
In most cases, when emergency medical personnel lose their radio, the device can be disabled to prevent unauthorized communications, but not in Litchfield county dispatch’s case.
“The vhf system that Litchfield County Dispatch operates off of doesn’t have that feature built into it. It’s an open system that people can speak on if they have the correct radio,” said Michael Bula, Chief Financial Officer of Marcus Communications in Manchester.
Marcus Communications, which is a two-way radio communications provider for public safety agencies statewide, has helped police catch criminals in the past. And, they expect to be involved in this case, too.
“We have sophisticated equipment that we’re able to use to go out there and track the person. It’s almost like a Doppler radar. It points you in the right direction of where the person, where the user is when they’re transmitting, “noted Bula.
How can it happen? Pretty easily with the purchase of a radio off the internet.
“It’s possible for them to figure out software for a two-way radio and then program the same features in to a portable radio or mobile radio,” said Kellan Boudreau, Inventory Manager for Marcus Communications.
If you have any information about who this individual might be, you are encouraged to reach out to State Police detectives at (860) 234-1529 or (860) 626-1821. You may also email HOLLY.WRIGHTSON@CT.GOV