The constant invention of new technologies can officer many law enforcement officials useful

tools and methods for the ongoing war on crime. From advanced global positioning system units, to long
range communication stations and lighter, stronger body armor, there are now more options than ever to
help protect those who protect us. Your generous grant will provide for our department new impact vests
for all patrol personnel, as we start more and more aggressive policing those who do not want to be
stopped by the police will retaliate more and more, and for that we need to have our front line officers
protected.
Our next major upgrade for the departments aging equipment is our current radio
communications system. As you know all public safety individuals have a need to communicate in the
most effective manner in order to protect and serve citizens. So to accomplish that we propose a
governance agreement with other agencies to allow us to jointly own and operate a new network of
communications systems in a bid to benefit all who wish to participate, be it police, fire, EMS, or
government agencies. The important part of this upgrade is to get all of the agencies involved from the
beginning. Police departments started using radios in 1933; each unit of government bought radios
individually for many years. A region might have had separate local, county and state communications
networks serving the same area. Each government agency managed its own system and normally did not
coordinate purchases or share equipment with neighboring jurisdictions. Even different public safety
disciplines in the same jurisdiction had their own radios and other equipment. For example, fire, police,
transportation and emergency medical services frequently had separate communications networks in the
same city. These uncoordinated efforts led to communication "stovepipes" in many regions and states.
(Dean 2009)
Dean, A.C. (2009, August 10). Importance of New Funding. Lewiston Tribune, p. .