WILTON – Police Chief Wayne Gallant told Finance Committee members last week his department will be upgrading equipment using money from a homeland security grant.
Gallant said approximately $15,000 in federal funding had been earmarked for the department last spring but hadn’t been used. Officer Kevin McCutcheon brought it to his attention, he said. Tim Hardy, director of emergency management for Franklin County, informed Gallant late last week that grants using the money had been accepted to purchase new computers and radios.
The department will receive new radios for its three cruisers, as well as five portable radios. The new radios will be a great improvement over the current equipment, said Gallant. They’ll be waterproof and have 100-frequency capabilities. Emergency responders will be able to have access to each other, he said. Officers will be able to communicate with Oxford County public safety personnel, for example, something they are currently unable to do.
Also included in the grant is approximately $6,500 in computer equipment including two laptops, a new server, a desktop computer, and reconditioning and updating of workstations.
Gallant said the laptops will have all software and information loaded on them so the department will be completely mobile if operations have to be moved due to a hazardous-materials or weapons-of-mass-destruction incident.
The chief was happy to be able to upgrade equipment that will address some issues brought forth in a recent evaluation conducted by the Maine Chiefs of Police Association, which had concerns with the department’s record-keeping practices.
“I’m pleased that it is something we don’t have to put into the budget,” said Gallant about the new equipment.
Comments are no longer available on this story