Continuing Governor Larry Hogan’s commitment to improving public safety in local communities and throughout the state of Maryland, Maryland First Responders Interoperable Radio System (Maryland FiRST) has expanded to Allegany County. With this expansion, Allegany County first responders will be able to have access to a standards-based interoperable 700MHz frequency band network capable of operations at the local, regional, and statewide level. This system will allow law enforcement, EMS, and fire department officials to communicate with each other on one radio, as well as communicating with surrounding states including West Virginia.
​​

“Our department is very excited to be working with our local partners in Allegany County to improve interoperability communications and provide first responders the services they need to serve the citizens of their county,” said Maryland Secretary of Information Technology Michael G. Leahy.​​​​ ​ ​

The Maryland FiRST system was created out of necessity after the September 11th attacks to have interoperability between all first responders during a large scale emergency. Maryland FiRST is the primary public safety communications system in Maryland state government with 24 agencies using the system for primary communications. Maryland FiRST is also currently being used by eight counties as their primary public safety communications system.
​​

“It has been a pleasure working together with the leadership in Allegany County and Motorola Solutions during the implementation of the Maryland FiRST system,” said Norman Farley, Chief of Public Safety Communications for the Department of Information Technology. “This state-of- the-art system will significantly increase the capability of first responders to adequately serve the citizens of Allegany County.”​