$83K Approved for Bedminster Police Equipment

The Bedminster Township Police Department is moving forward with the purchase of more than $83,000 worth of equipment out of the capital funds.

The township is spending a total of $83,800 in equipment.

The township committee approved the spending at Monday’s meeting.

“The biggest item we’re covering is equipping patrol units with new mobile video systems,” said Bedminster Township Police Chief Pat Ussery. “The ones we have are defunct, and the company no longer exists.”

“We had to research it, and we locked in a local company that is well established,” he added.

In addition, the funds will be used for radio upgrades required for the Federal Communication Commission's narrow banding required for use by the department.

“We have been putting money toward it every year for narrow banding and programming,” Ussery said.

The department will also be paying to transfer a 2011 Ford Explorer to be used by the police.

Finally, the last piece of the funding is set aside for the purchase of new sub gun weapons for the police department.

“There won’t be a significant change in the amount of money we are putting out for ammunition for the quality of the weapons,” Ussery said.

The committee unanimously approved the ordinance to appropriate the funds.