CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WBEN) - $500,000 in state funding will go towards replacing the communication infrastructure for first responders in the Town of Cheektowaga.
The current infrastructure is about 15 years old and there are weak signals in some neighborhoods due to its age. The upgrade will strengthen the signals, allowing police and firefighters to better communicate during emergency situations.
"We have struggled with radio communications," Cheektowaga Assistant Police Chief Brian Gould said. "Police officers on foot pursuits in rear yards, firefighters inside buildings that are on fire, they rely on portable handheld radios to keep them safe. But it didn't always work the way we needed it to."
Town officials wrestled with the the $1 million price tag of upgrading, but because of the state investment, the project is now more feasible.
"We know it's going to go a long way to help the Town of Cheektowaga and help to keep the taxes down in the Town of Cheektowaga and, most importantly, protect our first responders in a time of need," State Senator Tim Kennedy said.
Buffalo-based Saia Communications is engineering the upgraded radio infrastructure for first responders.
