Brazos County approves $1.695 million radio replacement with encryption after public safety debate

Brazos County Commissioners on Dec. 9 approved a $1,695,000 radio replacement and subscription package with Motorola Solutions intended to update the county’s public‑safety radio fleet and add cellular and Wi‑Fi capability.

Eric Colwell, head of information technology, told the court the system will allow radios to use radio, cellular and Wi‑Fi networks and that encryption capability was built into the hardware "and so it was we were capable of, simply programming them to start encrypting that radio traffic." Colwell said the package is structured so the county pays $1,332,000 in the first year with the balance spread across years two through seven.

The procurement prompted questions from citizens and commissioners about alternatives, leasing and fleet sizing. Peter Mitchellino, a Precinct 4 resident, asked whether other vendors or lease options were considered and urged delaying purchases until an employee‑count study was complete. Trudy Hancock, the county’s elections administrator, had earlier reported a conservative procurement process during budget development.

Constable Donald Lampeau, Precinct 2, argued encryption was a necessary safety measure. "This is a way for us to go home at night," he said, citing incidents on scenes where unsecured radio traffic can reveal law‑enforcement movements.

Commissioners sought further briefings and said they would ask staff for more options and a workshop before similarly sized purchases. Eric Colwell said Motorola agreed to prorate warranty and subscription costs over multiple years and that older radios could be repurposed or transferred to regional partners under previously used arrangements.

The motion to approve passed after discussion; the court did not record an individual roll‑call tally in the public record beyond the stated approval.