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Anne Arundel Suspends New Dispatch System

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- The Anne Arundel County police department is at least temporarily unplugging its new emergency dispatch system after complaints that it was complicated and not user friendly.

The county made the announcement on Friday.

Officials say they will use the old system until they can fix glitches with the new one. County Executive John Leopold estimates that it will take about 30 days to get the new system up.

The county's largest police union had complained about the $6.6 million system and voted to send a letter to county leaders.

The system is used by the county police and fire departments and other agencies. Police and firefighters had complained the closest units weren't being dispatched to emergencies, and that they couldn't review prior calls at an address before responding to emergencies.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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