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State College police present 800 MHz radio replacement in CIP; funding not finalized
Summary
The police department presented plans to replace aging 800 MHz radios with Motorola N70 models in 2026; staff said the radios improve officer safety and GPS/location features, but the project is listed in the CIP and not yet funded in the 2025 budget.
Chief Gardner presented the police department’s request to replace the borough’s 800 MHz radios, saying the current radios were purchased in 2014 and are fully depreciated. “Radios are an essential part of police work,” Chief Gardner said on June 9, adding that replacement parts are scarce and repairs are costly.
The department proposes purchasing Motorola N70 radios compatible with LTE, Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth and GPS, which the chief said would integrate with existing body‑worn and in‑car cameras. “The Bluetooth functionality would enable automatic recording to start with the body worn camera if the emergency button on a radio is active,” Gardner said. He also said the N70 radios include software and hardware encryption and that GPS location would allow dispatch and other officers to see an officer’s precise location when the emergency button is triggered.
Council members asked whether the project had been previously approved in the CIP and whether parts of it had been funded. Staff replied that the radio replacement was included in the CIP in prior years but was not funded in the 2025 budget; the project was moved into 2026 in the current CIP. Chief Gardner said the department faces a near-term equipment shortage as radios fail and that the fleet is aging.
Council discussion clarified procurement and funding status. A council member noted an attached quote for $653,000 and that the asset-replacement fund shows $450,000 available; staff stated the delta would likely come from the general fund if the borough chose to accelerate purchase, but that no decision had been made. A council member also asked about interoperability with other agencies; Chief Gardner said the borough can communicate with neighboring agencies but that other agencies might not have the same advanced features (GPS or live-streaming) available on the proposed radios.
Council members raised grant possibilities (the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency was mentioned) and tariff risks affecting equipment pricing; staff said grant opportunities exist but the chief did not have specifics on upcoming grants. No formal motion or budget decision was taken during the meeting.
