Bessemer Police Department Enhanced Communication Project

The Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program (Byrne Discretionary Program) helps local communities improve the capacity of local justice systems and provides for national support efforts. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 08 Congressional Budget.

The Bessemer Police will use the grant funds to purchase equipment to enhance the communication abilities of the police officers while in the field and create interoperable communications between their police officers and officers from surrounding jurisdictions. The grant funds will replace inoperable communications equipment currently used by Bessemer Police Department officers. Bessemer Police Department officers are currently using an outdated repeater system frequency. The equipment currently being used by officers is, in most cases, more than ten years old. The department does not currently have the ability to talk to other agencies while in the field since most of the surroundings agencies have moved to the 800 MHz system. The advantage of the new radios is that officers will be able to communicate with the old radios but with enhanced coverage and will have the ability to communicate with other agencies.

NCA/NCF