U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle have announced new federal investments for technology to support local law enforcement–including emergency response and crime prevention–in Benton, Lake and Marion counties, and the city of Medford.
The funding, from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services Technology and Equipment Program, will give Benton County ($963,000), Lake County ($2 million); Marion County ($1.8 million) and Medford ($880,000) resources needed to acquire effective equipment, technologies, and interoperable communications that assist in responding to and preventing crime.
Benton County Sheriff Weighs In
“Thank you to Senators Merkley and Wyden and Representative Hoyle for supporting Benton County’s First Responder Radio Infrastructure Improvement plan. The requested funding, proposed by Representative Hoyle, would be used by Benton County, Oregon to install an antenna and purchase radios necessary to improve public safety and emergency response for Benton County First Responders. A 2022 Radio Infrastructure Assessment and Improvement Plan revealed a significant challenge with Benton County’s radio communications is the lack of interoperability and situational awareness caused by law enforcement and Fire/EMS when utilizing different radio systems. Furthermore, many parts of the rural county have “dead-zones” in which no radio communications are available. Radio infrastructure, as well as handheld and mobile radios, are also in various states of degradation and need updating. This Federal funding would support a 700MHz antenna to be installed on an existing tower and the purchase of radios to eliminate “dead-zones” in the first phase to achieve interoperability between first responders,” said Benton County Sheriff Jef Van Arsdall.
What the Senators are Saying
“Communities throughout Oregon simply must have the modern tools required to prevent and fight crime in a modern world,” Wyden said. “I’m gratified this investment will help build safer communities for Oregonians in rural and urban areas across the state.”
“As I hold a town hall in each of Oregon’s 36 counties every year, I hear firsthand from folks about what matters most to them, including robustly supporting public safety efforts that keep Oregonians safe during disasters like wildfires and floods,” said Merkley, who secured funding for these community-initiated projects as a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “These federal investments to modernize emergency radio and alert systems in our communities will help local agencies perform at their best during the worst conditions to help save lives.”
What Rep. Hoyle is Saying
“One of my top priorities is helping law enforcement and emergency personnel replace outdated communications systems that fail to get critical messages across our Coastal or Cascade ranges,” said Rep. Hoyle. “I am proud to have helped secure this critical funding for Benton County’s first responders. These investments will greatly improve communication and emergency response times, particularly in rural areas. I’m grateful for the continued partnership of Senators Wyden and Merkley in prioritizing the safety of Oregonians.”
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