From the Bergen Record
Thursday, July 2, 2009
BY ANDREA ALEXANDER
NorthJersey.com
STAFF WRITER
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WAYNE – U.S. Rep Bill Pascrell Jr. announced Wednesday night during a Township Council meeting that he'd secured financial help for a $9.1 million project to replace the township's aging emergency communications system.
Last year, the township awarded a contract to M/A-Com, a part of Tyco Electronics, for a new digital communications system. The system is supposed to provide greater coverage and allow different public safety units to communicate with one another in the 25-square-mile township of 55,000 people.
Pascrell, D-Paterson, told the council Wednesday that he secured $300,000 toward the project through the Justice Department's annual congressional funding bill.
Problems with Wayne's 25-year-old system have grown more apparent over time.
During a major flood in April 2007, police couldn't contact officers in rescue boats to direct them in evacuations. And two years ago, when five Wayne Valley High School students allegedly planted two smoke bombs in lockers, Deputy Police Chief John Reardon has said he couldn't communicate with the officers first on the scene — before they knew what they were facing.
The existing analog system sometimes sounds garbled or doesn't work at all. The system also has capacity problems, and first responders sometimes have to wait to get airtime.
Work on the new system is expected to start this summer and be completed by fall 2010, Reardon said.
Pascrell praised the township for "looking ahead" by investing in a system that makes it possible for police, fire, and first aid to communicate.
"Improving the way we equip our first responders is one of the most important lessons learned from the horrific September 11th attacks eight years ago,'' Pascrell said.
E-mail: alexandera@northjersey.com
WAYNE – U.S. Rep Bill Pascrell Jr. announced Wednesday night during a Township Council meeting that he'd secured financial help for a $9.1 million project to replace the township's aging emergency communications system.
Last year, the township awarded a contract to M/A-Com, a part of Tyco Electronics, for a new digital communications system. The system is supposed to provide greater coverage and allow different public safety units to communicate with one another in the 25-square-mile township of 55,000 people.
Pascrell, D-Paterson, told the council Wednesday that he secured $300,000 toward the project through the Justice Department's annual congressional funding bill.
Problems with Wayne's 25-year-old system have grown more apparent over time.
During a major flood in April 2007, police couldn't contact officers in rescue boats to direct them in evacuations. And two years ago, when five Wayne Valley High School students allegedly planted two smoke bombs in lockers, Deputy Police Chief John Reardon has said he couldn't communicate with the officers first on the scene — before they knew what they were facing.
The existing analog system sometimes sounds garbled or doesn't work at all. The system also has capacity problems, and first responders sometimes have to wait to get airtime.
Work on the new system is expected to start this summer and be completed by fall 2010, Reardon said.
Pascrell praised the township for "looking ahead" by investing in a system that makes it possible for police, fire, and first aid to communicate.
"Improving the way we equip our first responders is one of the most important lessons learned from the horrific September 11th attacks eight years ago,'' Pascrell said.
E-mail: alexandera@northjersey.com
Thursday, July 2, 2009
BY ANDREA ALEXANDER
NorthJersey.com
STAFF WRITER
Comment on this story
0 Comments
Email this story Printer friendly version Decrease Font Size Increase Font Size
WAYNE – U.S. Rep Bill Pascrell Jr. announced Wednesday night during a Township Council meeting that he'd secured financial help for a $9.1 million project to replace the township's aging emergency communications system.
Last year, the township awarded a contract to M/A-Com, a part of Tyco Electronics, for a new digital communications system. The system is supposed to provide greater coverage and allow different public safety units to communicate with one another in the 25-square-mile township of 55,000 people.
Pascrell, D-Paterson, told the council Wednesday that he secured $300,000 toward the project through the Justice Department's annual congressional funding bill.
Problems with Wayne's 25-year-old system have grown more apparent over time.
During a major flood in April 2007, police couldn't contact officers in rescue boats to direct them in evacuations. And two years ago, when five Wayne Valley High School students allegedly planted two smoke bombs in lockers, Deputy Police Chief John Reardon has said he couldn't communicate with the officers first on the scene — before they knew what they were facing.
The existing analog system sometimes sounds garbled or doesn't work at all. The system also has capacity problems, and first responders sometimes have to wait to get airtime.
Work on the new system is expected to start this summer and be completed by fall 2010, Reardon said.
Pascrell praised the township for "looking ahead" by investing in a system that makes it possible for police, fire, and first aid to communicate.
"Improving the way we equip our first responders is one of the most important lessons learned from the horrific September 11th attacks eight years ago,'' Pascrell said.
E-mail: alexandera@northjersey.com
WAYNE – U.S. Rep Bill Pascrell Jr. announced Wednesday night during a Township Council meeting that he'd secured financial help for a $9.1 million project to replace the township's aging emergency communications system.
Last year, the township awarded a contract to M/A-Com, a part of Tyco Electronics, for a new digital communications system. The system is supposed to provide greater coverage and allow different public safety units to communicate with one another in the 25-square-mile township of 55,000 people.
Pascrell, D-Paterson, told the council Wednesday that he secured $300,000 toward the project through the Justice Department's annual congressional funding bill.
Problems with Wayne's 25-year-old system have grown more apparent over time.
During a major flood in April 2007, police couldn't contact officers in rescue boats to direct them in evacuations. And two years ago, when five Wayne Valley High School students allegedly planted two smoke bombs in lockers, Deputy Police Chief John Reardon has said he couldn't communicate with the officers first on the scene — before they knew what they were facing.
The existing analog system sometimes sounds garbled or doesn't work at all. The system also has capacity problems, and first responders sometimes have to wait to get airtime.
Work on the new system is expected to start this summer and be completed by fall 2010, Reardon said.
Pascrell praised the township for "looking ahead" by investing in a system that makes it possible for police, fire, and first aid to communicate.
"Improving the way we equip our first responders is one of the most important lessons learned from the horrific September 11th attacks eight years ago,'' Pascrell said.
E-mail: alexandera@northjersey.com
