Supporting police officers through FirstNet

June 12, 2023

Police officer talking on mobile phone inside car.

Whether in everyday situations, planned festivals or emergency scenarios, police officers are operating in the field and behind the scenes, coordinating responses to help keep our communities safe.

One of the best ways to recognize the work you do to keep your communities safe is by supporting you – and we do that 365 days a year through FirstNet, Built with AT&T.

  • FirstNet, America’s nationwide, high-speed broadband public safety network built specifically for police and all first responders alike, is fueling public safety innovation.

Dedicated connectivity when you need it most

While on duty, police officers need reliable connectivity that makes their communications the priority. And FirstNet helps connect more than 25,000 public safety agencies and organizations, accounting for 4.7 million connections, across all 56 states and territories.

For example, the Los Angeles Police Department relies on FirstNet to support its public safety ecosystem. In addition, LAPD has equipped its officers with Intrepid Network's Response for FirstNet® platform. The Response platform is a FirstNet Certified™ simple-to-use web and mobile situational awareness platform that enables teams to effectively communicate, collaborate, and coordinate and make more informed decisions based on near real-time information.

On the other side of the country in Ironton, Ohio, reliable communication helped Ironton Police keep the community safe. Before the agency made the switch to FirstNet, everybody was on a different kind of phone and different carriers, according to Pamela Wagner, Chief of Police for Ironton. They had coverage issues and throttling issues.

“When FirstNet came out, I personally got it on my phone when I became chief three years ago. I loved the service,” said Wagner. “I said, ‘This is what we need for my department.’ And we're building on that. Now our MDTs all go through FirstNet. Our department phones go through FirstNet. It has been a tremendous help to us.”

And in Vail, Colorado – where 10,000-foot mountain passes used to stand in the way of cell service – the Vail Police Department now relies on FirstNet to communicate and to help keep its 2 million visitors a year safe.

Dynamic to meet the moment

As police officers respond to unknown situations, they need unique tools to overcome whatever obstacles they face. To coordinate responses, officers across the country rely on dedicated FirstNet deployable network assets and other tools that provide tailored coverage during emergencies or major events with high demand for connectivity – like Pro Football’s Big Game.

In San Luis Obispo County, California, the Sheriff’s Office also turned to FirstNet to help them protect the 3,600 square miles under its jurisdiction and work with neighboring counties during emergency situations. In the past, communication across agencies has proven challenging, as only some are able to communicate over traditional radio. However, with FirstNet, the different agencies can all rely on their cellular connectivity for fast and reliable information – allowing them to coordinate responses more seamlessly.

  • The SLO County Sheriff’s office also relies on FirstNet to connect its camera systems as it trusts the signal to keep their cameras up and running, providing an extra resource and layer of community protection.

Going one step further to support you

Courageously dedicating their lives to protecting our communities, law enforcement officers frequently deal with stressful and traumatic situations as part of the job. As a result, first responders are significantly more likely to experience symptoms related to mental health conditions1.

This month especially, as June is PTSD awareness month, we want to highlight the emotional support and resources available to police officers through the FirstNet Health & Wellness Coalition.

Championing public safety’s connectivity resources is a responsibility that we don’t take lightly. We’re grateful for the opportunity to help keep the law enforcement community connected.

Learn more about the value FirstNet is bringing to the police community at FirstNet.com.

1  How employers can help first responders stay mentally and emotionally strong | Kaiser Permanente (November 2020)