In Baltimore City, Police dispatch system down for nearly 1 hour; backup system used
Baltimore City police dispatchers used hand-held radios to communicate with officers on the street for almost an hour last night after their computer dispatch system went down, authorities said.
Officers were asked not to engage in foot pursuits or vehicle pursuits to keep radio traffic to a minimum as the system was repaired. But police spokeswoman Ragina C. Averella said it did not affect public safety or the officers' ability to do their jobs.
The computer system went down at 10 p.m. and was back up by 10:50 p.m. During that time, dispatchers switched to the backup system of hand-held radios. The dispatchers usually use a foot-pedal to operate their radios so they have both hands free to type into the computer information they are sending to and receiving from officers.
But while using the hand-held radios last night, dispatchers had only one hand free to type and that slowed their work, they said.
Holiday parade to affect traffic in downtown today
With Baltimore's annual Thanksgiving Parade scheduled on Pratt Street for 11 a.m. today, portions of several downtown thoroughfares will be temporarily closed, the city Office of Transportation announced.
Affected from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. are Camden Street, between Russell and Howard streets, and Eutaw Street between Camden and Lombard streets; and from 10:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Pratt between Paca and President streets.
The parade begins at Pratt and Eutaw, and disbands at President.
In Garrett County
4 inches of snow reported, with another 2 expected
OAKLAND - About 4 inches of snow had fallen in Garrett County by 11 p.m. last night in the state's first snowfall of the season, authorities said. A total of 6 inches was expected in Western Maryland.
"It's nasty out there," said dispatcher John Feather of the Garrett County Sheriff's Office. "It sort of snuck up on us, and the roads all froze from being wet [from earlier sleet], and now the wind's blowing hard."
Feather said at least three accidents in the county could be attributed to the weather last night, none of them serious. Snow plows and salt trucks from the State Highway Administration would be working through the night.
State police said they had not shut down any roads, but they put their snow emergency plan into effect at 8 last night.