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We do though have a device on our vehicles that was meant for this exact purpose. That is <br />our 3M Opticon emitter that is normally utilized to change semaphores to green for <br />emergency vehicle travel. This same device could be used to signal the warning lights to <br />activate when a vehicle is leaving in an emergency mode. The receiving equipment would <br />need to be purchased and that cost is around $10,000. <br /> <br />The acute downside to that though is that our emergency vehicles are set-up such that the <br />Opticon does not come on until all the vehicle emergency lighting and siren are all operating. <br />That would mean that any vehicle leaving the facility would have the siren in full operation. <br />Our belief is that we have made a promise to the community to limit the use of the siren <br />when operating in the immediate neighborhood. We prefer not to utilize the Opticons in a <br />mode absent the siren as this creates the potential for an intersection crash where the officer <br />depended on just 2/3rds of the vehicle's safety equipment and an accident resulted from <br />sarne. <br /> <br />In addition, unless the emergency is just to the east of the facility, our responders have been <br />directed or will be directed, to exit the facility and drive west to Joplin and then out to Hwy. <br />10. This means that over 95% of the responding emergency vehicles will be making a right <br />turn out of the facility and going west. This affords not only the emergency vehicle operator <br />and the approaching vehicle driver the most visible lines of site but also affords better levels <br />of safety than making a left turn and going east. <br /> <br />We believe that if all emergency responders operate their vehicles with due regard to traffic <br />when exiting the facility, that the warning lights will not be needed. If you believe that these <br />precautions should be taken, than we would opt for the emitter activation - but only under <br />the understanding that the neighborhood will now hear sirens whenever a vehicle leaves the <br />station. <br /> <br />Chief Zerwas will be at the council meeting Monday night to answer any questions you may <br />have concerning this matter. <br /> <br />JAB <br /> <br /> <br />