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Commission hears update on radio encryption grant and questions about CellBright tool
Summary
Staff said a state grant will fund encryption upgrades for municipal radios with municipalities providing cost-share payments; commissioners asked whether costs for investigative tools like CellBright are shared and staff said they would verify cost-sharing details with the sheriff.
Commissioners discussed a state grant the county submitted to fund encryption upgrades that will reach municipal police departments.
"Whenever this grant opportunity became available, the Laura brought that before the commission. All of the municipalities were offered the opportunity to participate," said Staff member (Speaker 7), explaining the county applied to the state for the full amount so municipalities could encrypt their radios. Staff added there was a cost share by participating municipalities and that the county's radio shop will push the upgrades to radios on the system.
A commissioner questioned whether the county buys radios or if municipalities share expenses. Staff said municipalities provided a cost-share payment to the county's general fund for the grant portion. The commission also asked about CellBright, a tool used by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force; Speaker 7 said the tool is used at the EMCU/ICAC and likely falls under a joint cost-share agreement and that the sheriff's office would be asked to confirm invoicing and cost-sharing arrangements.
