Fairfield Police, Fire Departments To Receive Upgraded Radio System

FAIRFIELD, CT — The Fairfield Police and Fire departments are in line to receive a $7 million upgraded radio system to replace the 30-year-old system the departments currently use.

Under the plan, which received unanimous approval by the Board of Selectpersons on Monday, the new Motorola Solutions system will be compatible with the state's Public Safety Radio System, which will ensure that Fairfield emergency services will be able to communicate with other nearby departments.

The town's current, antiquated system is not compatible with the state system, posing occasional emergency communication issues between Fairfield and other communities.

"It was a big win for the town," said First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick about the new system. "Our system was not syncing up with other systems."

Selectman Thomas Flynn agreed. "This is a significant investment in our town's safety, and the safety of our officers and firefighters."

According to Police Chief Robert Kalamaras, half of the funding for the upgraded system, or $3.5 million, is coming from a federal grant, and the town has appropriated the additional money for it.

The town's portion of the funding will be bonded over 10 years, said Chief Fiscal Officer Jared Schmitt, which is the expected lifespan of the system, though Kalamaras said he expects the new system to last significantly longer than 10 years.

"Our radios don't work very well in the north end of town," Kalamaras said, and stressed that the new system, which will take at least a year to fully implement, will improve overall communications coverage throughout town.