Not surprising, but still surprised...

...The Washington Post reports that the US Capitol Police is having trouble with its' radio system.

Channels on the Reagan-era police radio system often crash, officers said. One went down during President Bush's State of the Union address to Congress in January, according to several officials. Last year, all five Capitol Police radio channels briefly collapsed, prompting officers to whip out their personal cellphones to communicate, officials said.

"It has some type of failure at least once a week," said Matt Tighe, head of the Fraternal Order of Police labor committee that represents Capitol Police officers.

As someone who sees the USCP on a semi-regular basis, I always tell people that they're some of the highest paid, best trained police agencies around. The starting salary for a USCP officer is high enough that they can pick and choose who they want. They're courteous, professional, and unlike some other local departments, relaxed and respectful.

It's a shame that they can't get the gear they need.

Anyone else outraged?