New Radio Equipment Approved For Rogers County Sheriff's Office

Rogers County Commissioners have approved $70,000 for an improved radio system for the Sheriff's Office. The planned purchase will improve portable coverage, making it possible for officers to communicate with each other in the field.

"I can't stress enough that when an officer is alone and away from his car the only lifeline he has is a portable radio," Undersheriff Jon Sappington said in his request for the funding.

"I cannot begin to express enough my concerns for officer safety if these resources are not provided."

With the new equipment, deputies will be able to reliably communicate with each other and other agencies while in the field.

The funds will be used to purchase antennas, microwaves and repeaters to be installed throughout the RCSO jurisdiction, spanning Claremore, Chelsea, Inola and Catoosa areas. Officers will be able to communicate with the different departments with 95 percent of the county covered, according to the Undersheriff's request.

The old system had communications bleeding over from other areas, static, power outages and lack of coverage, Sappington said.