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Barrington - Congresswoman Melissa Bean presented Barrington-area first responders with a $493,500 federal grant to assist in the purchase of new communications equipment.
The federal grant, signed into law this year as part of the FY 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act, helps pay for interoperable communications equipment – portable radios, mobile radios and consolettes – for the Barrington-Inverness Police Department, the Barrington Hills Police Department and the Barrington-Countryside Fire Department. Currently, these agencies have incompatible equipment, which prevents efficient communication with each other during emergencies. New interoperable communications equipment will allow seamless communication among area police and firefighters, and will allow the agencies to participate in the Illinois statewide first responder communications network, Starcom21. The funding was included in the bill at Congresswoman Bean’s request.
“The interoperable communications equipment this grant will allow us to purchase is invaluable to our police and fire first responders,” said Jeff Lawler, Chief of the Barrington Police Department. “It will allow them to quickly and easily communicate with the varied resources we use to attack public safety emergencies in our jurisdiction. The people of the Village of Barrington and its public safety agencies owe a great deal appreciation to Representative Bean and her Staff for their help and support in funding this crucial project.”
“Interoperability is key to modern police and fire communications,” Bean said. “I am proud to present this grant, which will help our local first responders protect the community more effectively and efficiently.”
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