Allegheny County (PA) Pittsburgh City Police Dignitary Security Details
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City of Pittsburgh Police Dignitary Security Details
The following discussion assumes that you have a basic understanding of the Wiki section covering Unit Numbering and On-Air Call Signs. You should also review the Wiki information in regard to SWAT Operations.
Primary communications will be found on Channel 7 (453.4500, CTCSS 186.2). Off-repeater communications, especially SWAT, may take place on the narcotics/surveillance channels.
If you are interested in knowing your proximity to the units on Channel 7, listen to the Channel 7 transmit frequency of 458.4500, CTCSS 186.2. This is the raw transmit frequency coming directly from the vehicles. So by flipping between the Channel 7 repeater and transmit frequencies, you will be able to have a basic idea of how close you are to the transmissions.
You will not hear certain communications of the operation, on a micro basis, as units do make use of Nextel phones and instant messaging. For example, rather than recall certain SWAT Mike elements over the air for egress, the command will simply text them.
The lead lieutenant is generally 3041. The second digit of "0" is rarely heard outside of dignitary details. With 3041 as the lead, sectors along the route are controlled by 3042 thru 304y. The route is broken down into "sectors" that are identified by color - e.g. red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, etc. (Update: The powers that be have started changing up the color identifiers of the individual sectors. You aren't the only one perusing the RR Database!)
Motorcycle units are renamed Alpha01, Alpha02, etc. There are generally twenty or fewer motorcycle units. Bicycle units are renamed Bravo01, Bravo02, etc. There are generally fifteen or less bicycle units. Bicycle officers 33627 and 33629 have been assigned directly to the dignitary on past details. Interestingly, 33627 and 33629 are two of only four bicycle officers that have a five digit call sign. The other two such bicycle officers are 33626 and 33628.
Generally speaking, dignitaries fly in/out of Pittsburgh International Airport. The security detail ends when it is announced, "We have wheels up." This indicates the airplane is airborne.
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