Public safety radio amplifiers up for board of trustee vote

Update: The board approved funding for this project at its Tuesday meeting.

By Lilly Kujawski
Editor

Cell phone users know that reception can get spotty in some campus buildings. It turns out, this is true for public safety radios, too.

While poor reception in campus buildings hasn’t affected a significant emergency situation so far, there have been cases where an officer had to move to another location in order to communicate with the radio system, according to Scott Hilden, chief of public safety.

The solution requires a $114,000 investment in amplifiers.

Today, WCC board of trustee members are expected to vote on a proposal to improve the public safety portable radio strength in key buildings on campus.

The proposal is prompted by weak radio signal strength in some of the buildings on campus, Hilden said.

If the proposal is passed, radio strength would be amplified in the Student Center and in Gunder Myran.

Right now, the public safety department has two desktop console radios, five mobile radio systems mounted in vehicles, and 15 portable radios to be carried on an officer’s person, Hilden said.

The radios WCC public safety officers use are the same as those used by all first responders across the state, Hilden said.

The radio system is part of a public system called the Michigan Public Safety Communication System. It allows WCC officers to communicate with other first responders across the county in case of an emergency.

The proposed amplification plan would allow for future expansion to other poor service areas on campus if needed, Hilden said.
The proposal calls for ComSource, Inc. of Plymouth to provide and install the equipment.

Trustees are expected to vote today at their 6 p.m. public meeting.

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