The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office has received a $1.2 million federal grant to replace aging body-worn cameras and upgrade radio technology for deputies in the field. Chief Deputy Ben Houchin announced the grant Friday, saying the new equipment will improve communications in areas of Lancaster County where deputies have struggled to maintain radio contact.
The grant will fund 100 new body-worn camera systems that integrate with Motorola Smart Connect radios. The radios can connect through traditional radio towers, cellular networks and Wi-Fi, helping deputies maintain contact in areas with limited coverage.
Houchin said locations including Branched Oak Lake, downtown Hickman and Firth have been challenging for portable radio communications. “There’s some areas in Lancaster County when a deputy gets out that they do not have reception with their portable radios,” Houchin said. “This will solve that problem.”
The technology also includes language translation capabilities, allowing deputies to communicate with people who speak different languages. Houchin said that feature could be especially helpful when assisting crime victims who have difficulty speaking English.
The sheriff’s office has already equipped its school resource officers with the technology after testing it during the past school year. The grant will allow the agency to expand the equipment to all deputies and security guards.
Houchin says the goal is to complete training and have the new systems operational by mid-November, once the grant funding and required paperwork are finalized. He credited U.S. Senator Deb Fischer and Congressman Mike Flood for helping secure the funding, which he said will save Lancaster County taxpayers the cost of purchasing the equipment.
“This really protects our people, and that’s the number one thing, especially when they’re out serving and protecting the citizens of Lancaster County,” Houchin says.