A recent requirement directing law enforcement agencies to use plain language when communicating on radios by October 2006 has been overturned.

The edict came down from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff this morning, said Jason Keller, chief public affairs officer of the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security. Keller isn’t sure why the requirement was overturned.

However, in a speech given Tuesday at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference, Chertoff said there had been a “strong response from the law enforcement community against this proposal,” according to a transcript on the Department of Homeland Security Web site. Rather than abolish 10-codes, agencies will “work to ensure that we have a common language system for multi-jurisdiction and multi-agency events,” he said.

The use of plain language was part of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliance requirements for all first responders, Keller said. Because there is no standard set of 10-codes, different law enforcement agencies may not be able to understand each other on radios if they’re working together during natural or man-made disasters, he said.

The goal of NIMS, which was formed by the Department of Homeland Security after 9/11, is to make it easier for agencies to work together, Keller said. In addition to the plain-language requirement, Kentucky first-responder agencies were the first in the country to complete NIMCAST, a required online assessment of each department’s strengths and weaknesses, he said. Law enforcement officers will also be required to complete a 40-hour training course next year.

The Office of Homeland Security is also working with Kentucky’s 15 area development districts to develop a training for all first responders, not just law enforcement agencies.

The plain language requirement “is only a small aspect of what this whole interagency cooperation is all about,” said Bowling Green Police Department Maj. Quentin Hughes. The BGPD has finished the NIMCAST, he said, and is sending every sworn officer and dispatcher to next year’s terrorism awareness training, which is offered through the state Department of Criminal Justice Training.

The NIMS plan is already being implemented locally, Hughes said – emergency management officials, as well as the BGPD, are updating their plans and policies to be prepared for any sort of disaster.

The Warren County Sheriff’s Office is “in the process of training our people on the required courses that have to be taught,” Sgt. Tim Meyer said. “We will comply to NIMS the best that we can.”

WCSO deputies will also participate in the terrorism training course, Meyer said, and the sheriff’s office will update its policies as well.

“A lot of the stuff that has to do with NIMS is our preparation and policies to deal with a natural event or a terrorist attack that involves the county,” he said. “It’s going to be a year of rewriting policies and reviewing all our policies and then training all our personnel.”By RACHEL ADAMS

The Daily News

radams@bgdailynews.com/783-3256

A recent requirement directing law enforcement agencies to use plain language when communicating on radios by October 2006 has been overturned.

The edict came down from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff this morning, said Jason Keller, chief public affairs officer of the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security. Keller isn’t sure why the requirement was overturned.

However, in a speech given Tuesday at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference, Chertoff said there had been a “strong response from the law enforcement community against this proposal,” according to a transcript on the Department of Homeland Security Web site. Rather than abolish 10-codes, agencies will “work to ensure that we have a common language system for multi-jurisdiction and multi-agency events,” he said.

The use of plain language was part of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliance requirements for all first responders, Keller said. Because there is no standard set of 10-codes, different law enforcement agencies may not be able to understand each other on radios if they’re working together during natural or man-made disasters, he said.

The goal of NIMS, which was formed by the Department of Homeland Security after 9/11, is to make it easier for agencies to work together, Keller said. In addition to the plain-language requirement, Kentucky first-responder agencies were the first in the country to complete NIMCAST, a required online assessment of each department’s strengths and weaknesses, he said. Law enforcement officers will also be required to complete a 40-hour training course next year.

The Office of Homeland Security is also working with Kentucky’s 15 area development districts to develop a training for all first responders, not just law enforcement agencies.

The plain language requirement “is only a small aspect of what this whole interagency cooperation is all about,” said Bowling Green Police Department Maj. Quentin Hughes. The BGPD has finished the NIMCAST, he said, and is sending every sworn officer and dispatcher to next year’s terrorism awareness training, which is offered through the state Department of Criminal Justice Training.

The NIMS plan is already being implemented locally, Hughes said – emergency management officials, as well as the BGPD, are updating their plans and policies to be prepared for any sort of disaster.

The Warren County Sheriff’s Office is “in the process of training our people on the required courses that have to be taught,” Sgt. Tim Meyer said. “We will comply to NIMS the best that we can.”

WCSO deputies will also participate in the terrorism training course, Meyer said, and the sheriff’s office will update its policies as well.

“A lot of the stuff that has to do with NIMS is our preparation and policies to deal with a natural event or a terrorist attack that involves the county,” he said. “It’s going to be a year of rewriting policies and reviewing all our policies and then training all our personnel.”