New Public Safety Radio System Now Live

In Fall 2009, a committee was formed to evaluate a recommendation by the Department of Public Safety to replace the City’s aging emergency radio system. The committee, made up of residents, business people, and representatives from the school district met a number of times to examine the problem and evaluate the solution. What the committee learned was the radio system was past its serviceable life and provided unreliable communication at best. The committee agreed that while the fix was expensive, the ability of public safety personnel to communicate is basic to providing a safe environment for those who live and work in the City of Riverside.

The Board of Aldermen adopted the Radio committee’s recommendation and work began to implement a new radio system that would provide a reliable means of communication for the Riverside department, but also be compatible with the new regional system that was being installed in the Kansas City Metro area. This regional system allows all participating departments to utilize one system to communicate with one another.

A new radio tower within the City of Riverside was completed in February 2011 and the system went operational November 15 at 7:30 a.m. This system provides true connectivity to the region and greatly improves the ability of our public safety personnel to respond to situations within the community.