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Custer County sheriff recaps patrol, radios and vehicle updates; urges residents to sign up for Everbridge alerts
Summary
Sheriff Rich reported higher traffic enforcement this year, new in-car radios donated by another sheriff's office, replacement vehicles and a county campaign to have camps and residents enroll in the Everbridge emergency-alert system.
Sheriff Rich gave a wide-ranging public safety update at the July 16 Custer County staff meeting, outlining higher traffic enforcement this year, vehicle replacements, radio upgrades and community emergency-notification work.
The sheriff said traffic stops and tickets are roughly double compared with the same time last year, reflecting both higher travel speeds on recently paved local roads and increased enforcement. He cited two large truck rollovers on county highways this year and urged more attention to commercial-driver safety.
Radios and vehicles Rich told commissioners a large sheriff's office in the state donated eight expensive in-car radios (roughly $5,000 each) to Custer County. He said vendors will program the radios to county frequencies and that some of the county's older radios will be obsolete once the state rolls out new antenna standards. Rich said the donated radios bring Custer County equipment into compliance with the state's upcoming change to 700/800 MHz.
On vehicles, Rich said several county patrol cars have exceeded 100,000 miles and are incurring high maintenance costs. He reported seven incoming vehicles: three financed by the county and four donated or paid for by local donors (Ford Explorers that arrived with lights and sirens but needed radar and radio installs). He said one vendor donated eight mobile radios and that costs for installing remaining radios are significant.
Emergency alerts and community outreach The sheriff urged residents and camp operators to sign up for Everbridge, the county's mass-notification system. He said a county review found some summer camps had no staff signed up for Everbridge and that a deputy will visit camps to confirm emergency plans and to help with registration. Rich and the fire chief planned a press release urging camp operators and residents to sign up.
Public safety training and other operations Rich announced a free all-day security training for houses of worship that includes classroom discussion of legal use-of-force issues and practical weapons training at a county range; ministers or congregation leaders may contact the sheriff's office to register.
Why it matters: upgraded radios improve interagency communications during mutual-aid events and major incidents, new vehicles reduce maintenance risk and Everbridge enrollment improves evacuation and warning coverage for remote residents and camps. Rich said he would seek and coordinate necessary authorizations for radios and frequency access through county channels.
What he asked of the board: Rich requested an authorization letter to allow county radios to be assigned to the sheriff's office channels and for the board to coordinate procurement and programming. Commissioners and staff discussed procurement timing and the county budget impact of vehicle replacements.
