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Omaha officials discuss $multiyear purchase of portable Motorola radios for police and fire
Summary
City officials and public-safety leaders described the need to replace aging radios and the limited market options for compatible equipment, with finance staff saying costs are planned across multiple budget years.
City officials and public-safety leaders described a planned, multiyear purchase of portable radios from Motorola Solutions Inc. for the Omaha Police and Fire Departments, saying the current radios are nearing the end of service and replacements carry a large price tag.
Deputy Chief Anna Colon of the Omaha Police Department and Fire Chief Kathy Bosman told the City Council that the existing equipment is aging and that Motorola is the primary supplier that will provide needed service and warranty coverage. "The current ones the Omaha Police Department has are approximately 10 to 15 years old," Deputy Chief Anna Colon said. "That is correct." Chief Kathy Bosman said the fire department units will age out in February 2027 and described the radios as "essential" for immediate contact with command officers and dispatchers.
Council Member Melton said she was surprised by the cost and by the limited competitive options for the radios. "There's kind of, it's almost almost a monopoly on these," Melton said, and added she supported purchasing the new radios for both departments. Colon and Bosman confirmed a seven-year warranty on the proposed radios; Colon said the departments currently send roughly 20 radios a month for repairs and that out-of-warranty repairs can be costly. "Once these radios are end of life, which is anticipated at the end of the year, then Motorola will no longer service them," Colon said.
Council Member Begley asked for the ages of the radios; Colon and Bosman gave the timelines above. Finance Director Steve Curtis said the city structured payment across three years (2025, 2026 and 2027) and that funding is planned for those years. "We did cut it into 3 years ... and, yeah, we have funding, planned out for it," Curtis said when asked about budget handling.
Council members and department leaders framed the purchase as necessary for public-safety operations but noted the price and limited vendor options. The transcript records discussion and explanations from police, fire and finance staff; no formal vote on the purchase appears in the provided transcript segment.
The council discussion followed public hearing proponents for the item: Deputy Chief Anna Colon and Chief Kathy Bosman, who both answered council questions. Council members who spoke on the record included Melton, Begley and Hood. The council did not record a roll-call vote for this item in the provided transcript.
Next steps: the council discussion indicated the departments plan to proceed with the procurement and that financing is planned over multiple years. The transcript does not show a recorded vote or final adoption of an ordinance or contract award within the provided excerpt.
