Amount Requested: $2 million
Cumberland County, NC
Through the Department of Justice COPS Law Enforcement Technology Account. Since 1996, the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office and Fayetteville Police Department have utilized the City of Fayetteville's 800MHz Radio System. In 2005, the city and county shared in an upgrade of the system at a cost of $4.7 million, splitting the cost based on the number of radios each entity used. This system is valid only until late 2009. After 2009 the system cannot be expanded without converting to a P-25 compliant system. The Fayetteville Police Department and Cumberland County Sheriff's Office have identified areas in the unincorporated areas of Cumberland County and in the newly annexed areas of the City of Fayetteville with less than adequate radio coverage. In order to provide all current users with at least the standard 95% coverage in all areas of Cumberland County, utilizing a three watt, hand-held radio in the street, the current radio system will need to have a major upgrade. The system will also need to be converted to a strictly digital system by year 2014 if it continues to be utilized for emergency responders. These funds are a worthwhile use of taxpayer's money as the project will provide first responders with a new radio system which will enable them to respond better to emergency situations.