ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando's top cop has concerns over safety at the Amway Center after several police and fire personnel have reported having problems using their radio to make calls.
The plan to fix the issue before any major incidents occur because of dropped signals will cost taxpayers over $225,000.
Despite the cost of over $350 million to build the arena alone, nothing additional was added to help with police and fire radios.
The city said they use a tower a block away.
In a letter from Police Chief Paul Rooney to Orlando city staff, he has the same concerns for rescue workers.
Rooney states, "Since the opening of the Amway Center, my office has received numerous complaints from public safety personnel (both police and fire) regarding the lack of radio coverage in the facility. This causes great concern for officer and public safety during an event."
"How's that make you feel seeing his words?" WFTV's Renee Stoll asked.
"It's a big concern. It's a big problem," said Tajiri Jamadhari, an Orlando resident.
The tower everyone else is hitting when they're using their cellphone at the Amway Center is the same one police are using for their Motorola radios.
"When you have large crowds and everyone's on their cellphone it pulls the signal strength down," said Orlando Police Sgt. Vince Ogburn. "It's just like a dead spot."
WFTV obtained a copy of Motorola's onsite walk through with city staff, which shows six different floors and a total of 13 areas that have weak to extremely low signals for police and fire radios.
The cost to fix the problem is $225,000 to amplify the radio signal for better coverage.
But Ogburn insists the public has never been at risk.
"If you guys have never had an incident, you've always had communication, then why spend a quarter million dollars?" Stoll asked.
"Because the signal strength, like you said, in the study was too weak," said Ogburn.
Ogburn said they are trying to fix this issue before it does become a problem.
This need for more radio coverage comes just as the Amway Center received the Facility of Merit award for performing above normal operations and enhanced safety and security.
There's no word when the project will be complete.
WFTV
