From the Chief: New Radio System Makes Riverside a Safer Community

In December, 2009 the Board of Alderman approved the replacement of Public Safety’s outdated and trouble-prone VHF radio system with a state of the art digital system. At 7:30 am on Monday, November 15th our new system went live. I won’t bore you with the technical details on how this system is better other than to say with the erection of the tower powering digital technology our firefighters and police officers can talk on the radio clearly anywhere in the city. Before, there were some outside areas (like stretches of 9 Highway) and inside some buildings (Park Hill South High School and the Argosy Casino are examples) where there was no radio coverage. Also joining this regional radio system is Kansas City, Gladstone and North Kansas City. This means we can talk directly to those police and fire agencies.

Many thanks to the Mayor appointed Citizens Radio Committee for studying this issue completely and then presenting their findings and recommendations to the Board of Alderman and to our elected officials for authorizing such a monumental leap forward. Riverside is a safer community because of it.

- Chief Greg Mills, Director of Public Safety