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Council approves COPS-funded network, access-control upgrades at police station
Summary
The council approved additional COPS grant funding to complete network upgrades, cameras and electronic access control doors at the police station; officials said the project resolved longstanding connectivity and equipment issues.
The City Council approved additional funding tied to a COPS grant to finish IT and security upgrades at the New London Police Department facility.
Director Adriana Reyes and staff described the program as a capital improvement that began with ARPA funds to address urgent technology failures. When a federal COPS grant became available, staff switched to the grant to cover remaining work, which the meeting backup described as network reconfiguration, new switches, cameras, card/fob access control on doors and upgraded monitoring and recording systems.
Officials said the upgrades replace outdated wiring and switches, add battery backup and permit real-time camera displays in a police conference room. The council packet and staff said the improvements aim to reduce officer time spent on broken systems and improve building security and accountability.
The action in the meeting authorized an additional payment of $87,725 to Cross Camera Controls for access-control doors; funding was listed as available in the COPS 24 grant account. Councilors questioned whether the city would bear local taxpayer costs; staff said the work will be paid from ARPA and federal COPS grant funds, not from the municipal operating budget.
Ending: Councilors and staff said the upgrades should resolve prior connectivity problems and improve officer efficiency and building security.
