OAKLAND, Calif. — This city’s year-old $18 million police radio system failed repeatedly during President Barack Obama’s Monday visit to Oakland and during protests surrounding it.
At one point, officers couldn’t reach dispatchers for about 30 minutes, said Barry Donelan, president of the Oakland Police Officers Association.
Another time, some officers reported that the radios failed altogether shortly after the president departed and some protesters began blocking downtown streets.
“It doesn’t work, that’s the bottom line. Our officers have absolutely no confidence with this current radio system,” Donelan said Thursday.
Front Section, Pages 6 on 07/27/2012