Public Safety Radio Communications

Overview

The Department of Information Technology maintains and operates the State's Public Safety Radio Communication network. The primary purpose of this network is to provide interoperable radio communications for state and participating local, tribal and federal agencies. This system provides contemporary features and enhanced coverage to subscribers via a suite of systems and services including our newest platform, the New Mexico Digital Trunked Radio System (DTRS). The Public Safety Communications (PSC) unit is part of the New Mexico Department of Information Technology. PSC has over 40 full time employees working in seven facilities in five cities in New Mexico. PSC provides radio communications services to all executive state agencies, as well as participating federal, tribal, local, judicial and legislative agencies.

What is DTRS?

DTRS is revolutionizing public safety radio communications within the State of New Mexico. It is a 700 & 800 MHz Project 25 (P25) Phase II digital trunked radio system providing statewide coverage to federal, state, local, and tribal agencies. DTRS is an open platform available to all governmental first responder agencies within the State of New Mexico. DTRS is owned and operated by the New Mexico Department of Information Technology Public Safety Communications Unit.

Benefits of DTRS

• Unprecedented interoperability
• Statewide coverage
• State-of-the-art digital clarity
• Significantly lower cost due to shared infrastructure
  • The state maintains all towers and core systems
  • Subscribers are only responsible for providing/maintaining end-user radios and dispatch consoles/equipment

Two-Way Radio Services

The System supports and interconnects the following two-way radio services:

• Local Base – Provides instantaneous two-way radio communications between a dispatch center and employees working in the immediate area or close proximity.
• Remote Base – Provides instantaneous two-way radio communications between a dispatch center and employees working long distances from the center.
• Multi Channel Console – Allows a dispatcher to control multiple local and/or remote base stations or the DTRS system from a single dispatch center.
• Mobile Radio – Usually installed in a service vehicle, allows employees in the field to communicate to a dispatch center through a local or remote base station or to the DTRS system and other service subscribers.
• Mobile Radio with Repeater – Allows an employee, typically police officers, to operate their mobile radio when they are out of the vehicle. This greatly increases the range of the portable radio in remote areas.
• Portable Radio – Provides access to the radio system, dispatch centers and DTRS system from a handheld radio device.
• DTRS Connection Service – Provides connectivity and access to the Digital Trunked Radio System (DTRS) for non-state agencies.

For State agencies, all services include radio hardware, installation, programming, maintenance, repair, technical support and replacement.

DTRS Features and Capabilities

• Enhanced coverage within the DTRS service area
• Digital voice communications with available voice encryption
• Convergence with WiFi, LTE technology, mobile devices and FirstNet for enhanced coverage and connectivity
• Features such as: text messaging, caller ID, GPS location, CAD system integration, remote radio control and mobile data
• State-wide seamless roaming and talk-group access within the service area

Current Status and Coverage

The ultimate goal of DTRS is 92% statewide mobile radio coverage contributed from approximately 170 sites. There are currently 101 sites online providing 65% total geographical mobile radio coverage. The DTRS system currently handles about 1.8 million calls per month. There are currently over 60 state, federal, tribal and local agencies on the DTRS. Subscribers in the following areas can take advantage of DTRS coverage today, with new areas being added monthly:

• Albuquerque Metro Area (including Counties of Bernalillo, Sandoval and Valencia) & East Mountains
• Santa Fe Area
• Las Cruces & Doña Ana County Area
• Chaves, Eddy and Lea County areas
• Socorro Area
• Alamogordo Area
• I-25 Corridor
• I-40 Corridor
• I-10 Corridor
• Dona Ana County
• Ruidoso Area
• Portions of Lincoln, Hidalgo, Grant, Luna, McKinley, Santa Fe, Torrance Counties

Figures as of April 2026.

DoIT Dispatch Center

DoIT runs the Santa Fe Control Dispatch Center which was established to provide statewide radio dispatch services to state agencies. Its sole purpose is to conduct effective communication that will ensure the safety of the citizens and client employees that it serves. The State of New Mexico has mandated that it be adequately staffed seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. Dispatch operations include monitoring, gathering, processing and disseminating all radio transmissions from field units of all agencies as well as all related incoming and outgoing telephone communications for each agency served. The Dispatch Center can be reached at 505-827-9377.

System Maintenance and Operations

DoIT is proudly 100% self-maintained for day-to-day operations, maintenance and system repairs. We don't depend on contractors or vendors for the day-to-day operation and maintenance of our radio system. DoIT funds and manages the Radio Communications Maintenance and Operation group including fully equipped repair shops in Santa Fe, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, Roswell and Las Cruces. This group provides 24 × 7 emergency repair services for the radio system. They install and maintain all State agency radio hardware and maintain the entirety of the radio system infrastructure. This group also maintains dispatch center equipment for State agencies such as the Department of Public Safety, Department of Transportation, State Forestry and others.

Systems Integration Group

The Systems Integration Group provides support to the Maintenance/Operations team and assists with identifying, planning, installing and executing service migrations, new subscriber onboarding, system modernizations and system modifications.

Public Safety Network Operations Center (PSNOC)

The PSNOC, based in Santa Fe, supports the mission of the Public Safety Communications Group by performing the following functions: Proactive system monitoring, data and trend analysis, proactive and reactive dispatch of the maintenance operations team, management of the system's backhaul and data network and providing system support to internal and external subscriber agencies. To contact the Public Safety Network Operations Center directly please e-mail psnoc@state.nm.us. To report a DTRS system outage please notify the Dispatch Center at 505-827-9377.

Public Safety Communications Unit Leadership

• Director: Michael Rohrbacher — michael.rohrbacher@doit.nm.gov
• Maintenance Operations Manager: Lucas Salazar — lucas.salazar@doit.nm.gov
• Network Operations Manager: Christopher Perez — chris.perez@doit.nm.gov