Orlando Sentinel (Florida)  

TAVARES, Fla. — In front of an audience of supportive law-enforcement officers, firefighters and paramedics, Lake County commissioners unanimously approved an estimated $34 million overhaul of the county's emergency radio system, an often unreliable network.

"This is the last piece of the puzzle that will bring us all together and enable us to talk with one another," said Leesburg fire Chief Dennis Sargent, president of the Lake County Fire Chiefs Association.

The project, one of the largest and most expensive in the county's history, was praised by Sheriff Gary Borders because its aim is to plug gaps in an emergency-communications network that has sometimes cut off first responders from their agencies.

Dispatchers often ask deputies to repeat their communications because of radio interference or blocked signals.

"I pray every day that it's not going to be when an officer is asking for help," Borders said.

Gary Kaiser, the county's director of public safety, said the new system will enable hundreds of county and city police, fire and rescue workers to communicate with one another under a unified network.

Copyright 2007 Sentinel Communications Co.