The two reasons that I can state off hand for maintaining a "Phone patch" 
system is 2 fold.  1)  In a state of emergency where normal communication 
systems are disrupted (Either Land Lines, or cellular phone networks) a 
public saftey service HAS to be able to maintain a separate system that they 
KNOW will be available to them in the case of a disaster.  Several senarios 
may make cellular phones UNUSABLE for emergency traffic.  One of them being 
other motorists on the road during a major fire, earthquake, or floor will be 
calling 911 (In San Diego this gets routed to the CHP) or fammily members to 
check on thier condition.  The cellular networks will be FLOODED within 
minutes of a particular disaster.  The high frequency of a cell phone (800, 
900 MHz) also means that if just one ore two cell sites go offline entire 
service areas may be knocked out, which will make using a cell phone 
impossible to units in the feild.  The second issue involces cost amd control 
of how these phones are used,  when you request a phone patch the dispatcher 
KNOWS who you are calling and what that reason is,  it ensures that officers 
are not using their access to communications for personal means.  If the 
state was to issue every officer a cell phone do YOU as a tax payer want to 
pay for calls that where made for personal reasons?
   Thats my input,  Brent Hendricks KF6HDJ  (CW SUCKS!!!)
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