The Oroville City Council this week approved the purchase of 50 vehicle radios to replace outdated devices, and it also approved the purchase of two narcotics testing devices.
City Administrator Bill LaGrone said the police radios have been failing on a regular basis and need to be replaced to meet U.S. Department of Justice requirements.
“Less than 10 years ago, one of the first things I was tasked with when I began as a lieutenant ... was to upgrade the (radio) infrastructure,” LaGrone said. “Well, here I am now in 2022, letting you know that all of that equipment is obsolete.”
LaGrone said the new radios will be attached to Butte County’s radio system, allowing radio use anywhere in the county. The cost of the 50 new radios will not exceed $571,245 and will update the city’s radio encryption software.
The City Council also considered two narcotics testing devices that will increase safety for police officers who are testing unknown controlled substances. The new devices, branded TruNarc, use laser optics instead of chemicals to identify unknown controlled substances, and its evidence may be used in criminal cases.
The cost of the narcotics testing devices will be $51,490 and will include training for 12 officers.
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