Provincial Police in northwestern Ontario are throwing their full support behind a new radio communications system being promised for Ontario’s first responders.
The government has pledged to fund improvements to communication towers and antennae’s and replace the aging radios currently in use.
Staff Sergeant Paul Van Bellinghen says the new system will allow them to speak not only with other police agencies in the area, but all first responders.
The system ensures more than 38-thousand frontline and emergency responders can communicate effectively and reliably.
Van Bellinghen says the new system helps everyone.
“This upgrade is going to be huge for the OPP, there’s no doubt that this will increase officer safety. Most importantly of course is the safety of the public and it will allow us to more effectively respond to emergencies.”
Van Bellinghen notes some of the radios the police are still using are from 1998.
