The Darien Foundation Gives $124K Grant To PD For Boat Tech Upgrades

DARIEN, CT — Thanks to the generosity of The Darien Foundation, the Darien Police Department could soon receive much-needed upgrades to its police boat technology.

The Darien Board of Selectmen on Monday night unanimously voted to accept a gift of $123,540 for technology and communications upgrades aboard Darien-127, the department's police boat.

The money will be used to upgrade the onboard navigational hardware and software, sonar system, thermal imaging systems, various radio systems, spot lighting, mobile data terminal/information system (onboard laptop), and radios for five marine division officers which will have marine division frequencies.

The radios, which are valued at $9,445 each, will allow marine officers to hear distress calls directly when on land, instead of having calls routed from the Coast Guard. They will also enable officers to communicate directly from the police boat with other first responders on land, instead of through marine channels that get patched through and routed.

The entire gift must still be approved by the Representative Town Meeting.

The Darien Foundation also provided $65,000 for what was then state-of-the-art technology for the police boat when it was launched in 2016.

Since the boat operates for eight to 10 hours a day for over three months a year, and in the extreme weather of the off-season in the winter, marine division members and electronics technicians felt the current equipment was nearing the end of its usable life.

Marine division personnel met with the foundation several weeks ago thinking discussions for upgraded equipment were in the exploratory phase, according to Darien Police Chief Don Anderson, but the foundation went ahead and approved a grant.

"It points to the fact that the folks who live here and the folks who run this town government think the police department is doing a good job, and it's a worthwhile investment on public/private partnerships to keep us at the top of the heap," Anderson told the Board of Selectmen. "This will put us back on top as far as equipment goes... Having equipment and having our folks have access to the best equipment out there is a win-win for everybody."

Both Anderosn and First Selectman Monica McNally thanked The Darien Foundation for their gesture.

"We're extremely appreciative of the generosity of the Darien Foundation," McNally said.

The foundation has been a long-standing supporter of the DPD and other local first responders, such as the volunteer fire departments and Post 53.

Executive Director Sarah Woodberry told Patch that youth, safety and security and quality of life are the main pillars for the foundation.

"These are valuable tools for [the police] that also impact the residents of Darien," Woodberry said of the upgraded equipment. "Anything we can do to assist our first responders who do so much for Darien, that's something that is top priority for The Darien Foundation."

Woodberry added that the hope is to have the upgraded equipment ready for the summer season.