CUSTOMER SPOTLIGHT: Johnston County, NC

Mar 26, 2019

DEMOGRAPHICS: Johnston County is comprised of the cities/towns of Smithfield, Clayton, Benson, Selma, Four Oaks, Princeton, Pine Level, Archer Lodge, Wilson’s Mills, Micro, and West Smithfield. The County’s public safety radio system includes the sheriff’s office along with police, fire, and emergency management services.

KEY CONTACTS: Jason Barbour, Johnston County 911 Director; Sheriff Steve Bizzell

Together they serve a population of over 177,000 residents across an 800 sq. mile area. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT: A loyal Ci customer since the 1990s, Johnston County once again chose Ci to assist them in their migration from a Harris EDACS radio system to a state-of-the-art P25 Phase 2 system. The project, which began in 2012, was completed in phases over a four year period. The customer had several goals in mind for this project including increased system capacity, improved coverage, and interoperability with North Carolina Highway Patrol and neighboring counties. Ci’s system design utilized Johnston County’s existing microwave network. Additional design highlights include: Five site, Multi-site 800 MHz P25 Phase 2 System Harris SR10A.2 P25 HA Geo Diverse NSC VIDA Core 21 Harris Symphony Premier Consoles at the Primary and Backup Dispatch Centers BeOn Push-to-Talk Platform Nearly 2000 Harris Mobile and Portable Radios Ci successfully completed the radio system implementation in fall of 2016, and the cutover to the new system took place on Oct. 1, 2016 at 3:00 am. Just days later, Hurricane Matthew struck, causing massive destruction throughout the area. From unprecedented flooding and power outages to crumbling roadways and stranded citizens; 250,000 calls for assistance were received within the first 12 hour response period alone. Despite these challenging conditions, their radio system performed without fail. When it mattered most, Johnston County first responders were able to communicate effectively with each other as well as with first responders outside of their county, ensuring their citizens received the help they needed when they needed it. “Failure is not an option” is the motto displayed at Johnston County’’’s 911 dispatch center, and we at Ci remain dedicated to working with the County and its agencies to ensure they have the right tools and technology to honor that commitment. We are grateful for our long-standing partnership with Johnston County, and look forward to serving them for years to come.