History
Topeka, the Capital of Kansas and the largest city in Shawnee County, remains a pioneer in the field of emergency communications.
In 1937, Topeka became one of the first cities in the United States to install two-way radios in its police and fire vehicles. After World War II, the Police Department utilized surplus Army walkie-talkies for field communications at special events.
In the 1970s Topeka PD converted to a multi-frequency 400MHz radio system for better clarity and to escape the increasingly crowded "hi-band" spectrum.
In 1980, the Topeka Police and Fire Departments combined operations in one facility. This became the forerunner of SCECC as it is today.
1985 saw the county's first 9-1-1 system and two years later brought Enhanced 9-1-1, which provides dispatchers with name, address and other caller information.
Computer-aided dispatch, or CAD, arrived in 1986. CAD systems relieve much of the drudgery of dispatching. They make recommendations for unit use and provide an excellent record-keeping function. SCECC is currently in the process of upgrading to its fourth CAD system.
In 1997, Shawnee County assumed operation of all emergency communication and combined five law enforcement and eight fire agencies in one consolidated dispatch center using a trunked 800 MHz, 15-channel, two-tower simulcast radio system. The system is scheduled for major updates to a digital system, moving from two towers to seven throughout Shawnee County.
Our CAD system integrates with Shawnee Sheriff and Topeka Police MDTs (Mobile Data Terminal) in each patrol vehicle.
In 2014, Shawnee County transitioned to a P25 Simulcast Motorola Radio System. The P25 system infrastructure consists of seven sites that are physically and digitally monitored and maintained by Shawnee County Radio Services. The network provides critical radio communications to Shawnee County and other local agencies. The system also provides interoperable communications between county, state, and/or federal agencies should a large-scale event occur.