New Radios Needed For Every Officer, Police Chief Says

Montgomery County is planning to upgrade its radio system in 2014, and the current radios used by Upper Moreland Police officers will not be compatible once the upgrade takes place. 

“The bare minimum we would need is 20 portable radios to maintain service and operations,” Levy said. “We’ll have to determine exactly how the radios are going to be funded, and then at that point make a decision on how many we’ll buy initially, and then possibly buy more over time.”

Levy also said the money will probably need to be borrowed, and not come from a grant.

Levy said every police officer will need to be equipped with a compatible radio and those will cost $3,000 apiece.

Recently the Willow Grove Fire Company qualified for a $15,000 grant that was used to purchase Mobile Data Computers for their fire trucks, however, none of that money can be used to cover the cost of police radios.

Levy said only fire chiefs are required to carry portable radios, but every officer in the Police Department will need to be equipped with one as well.

They are hoping the county will allow financing over a 5-year period.