PHASE ONE CHANGES HAVE CONSISTED OF CREATING A JOINT DISPATCH FACILITY WITH CONSOLIDATED TELEPHONE INTERFACE, CAPABILITY OF MONITORING AND RECORDING ALL RADIO CHANNELS AND ALL TELEPHONE CALLS FOR SERVICE, AND ACQUISITION OF A NEW RADIO SYSTEM FEATURING IMPROVED PROPAGATION RELIABILITY, AN INCREASE IN NUMBER OF CHANNELS, AND A FULL COMPLEMENT OF PERSONAL PORTABLE RADIOS (HANDSETS). THE NEW COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENTS AND DISPATCH FACILITIES HAVE RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT DECREASES IN TIME NEEDED TO RECEIVE AND PROCESS CALLS FOR SERVICE (BOTH ROUTINE AND EMERGENCY PRIORITY) AND TO MAKE THE APPROPRIATE DISPATCH. THE FORCE-WIDE USE OF HANDSETS HAS INCREASED OFFICERS' PATROL FLEXIBILITY AND FEELINGS OF PERSONAL SAFETY AS WELL AS INCREASED THEIR PUBLIC CONTACT. THESE COMMUNICATIONS CHANGES ARE OCCURRING CONCURRENTLY WITH CIVILIANIZATION AND A SWITCH TO TEAM POLICING.