Dodge County officials are moving forward with plans to overhaul the county’s aging public safety radio system following a series of critical communication failures that leaders say have put lives at risk.
Sheriff Dale Schmidt released a detailed report in late January outlining significant gaps in the current Very High Frequency (VHF) system, including an incident during a June 2024 attempted homicide response near Watertown where deputies were unable to communicate with dispatch or each other while rescuing a victim.
“Communications were entirely garbled,” Schmidt said, comparing the experience to using a cell phone in a tunnel. “The SWAT Commander could not communicate with me, the Incident Commander, only a quarter mile away.”
The county has formed an Ad Hoc Public Safety Radio Communications Committee to address the issues, which include poor coverage in the Horicon Marsh and a total loss of communication in the Reeseville and Columbus areas during a severe thunderstorm last June.
Technical Hurdles and Aging Infrastructure
A study conducted by TUSA Consulting, hired by the county, confirmed that the current system suffers from “time delay interference” and an unusually high “noise floor” that distorts signals.
The report also highlighted a looming infrastructure crisis. Much of the county’s equipment is more than 20 years old. According to the Sheriff, some repairs currently rely on purchasing used parts from auction sites like eBay because replacement components are no longer manufactured.
“Think of it as using a 20-plus-year-old laptop to run critical emergency software,” Schmidt said. “It may boot up, but when seconds count, it freezes or crashes.”
Beyond equipment failure, the county faces “interoperability” challenges. While Dodge County uses a conventional VHF system, neighboring jurisdictions like Waukesha, Washington, and Fond du Lac counties — as well as the city of Watertown — use 800 MHz systems, making direct communication during multi-jurisdictional pursuits or disasters nearly impossible.
The Path Forward
Based on consultant recommendations, the county is exploring a transition to an 800 MHz trunked system, which would align Dodge County with modern standards used by surrounding agencies.
Key steps in the timeline include:
-January 2026: Vendors participated in an informational fair to showcase available technology.
-Spring 2026: The committee will develop a Request for Proposals (RFP) to determine exact costs.
-Summer 2026: Officials will review vendor responses.
-Fall 2026: Proposals will be presented to the County Board for a final decision.
While a full replacement is expected to take two to three years to deploy, the County Board has authorized temporary improvements to the existing system to maintain safety during the transition.
Fiscal Responsibility
Officials emphasized that the upcoming RFP does not commit the county to spending, but will provide the data-driven figures needed for a final decision.
Emergency Management Director Joe Meagher is currently working with local agencies to pursue state and federal grants to offset the taxpayer burden. Schmidt noted that the county is in a strong negotiating position as two competing statewide systems are currently under development.
“Dodge County is an integral piece for either system to succeed,” Schmidt said.
Residents can track the project’s progress and view committee documents on the county’s dedicated website at www.co.dodge.wi.gov/radio.
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