2 Cities to Upgrade Police Radio Systems

Saying that police communication is a top priority, officials of Los Alamitos and Villa Park said they will use state law enforcement grants to improve radio systems.

Los Alamitos expects to receive a $28,600 grant from the state’s Citizen Option for Public Safety program, known as COPS. Established this year by the state Legislature, COPS will distribute $100 million throughout the state for police services.

“We’re still on first-generation radio equipment, and it’s becoming a rather inefficient system,” Los Alamitos Police Chief Michael J. Skogh said.

He recommended to the City Council that the funds be used to replace police radios, purchase a mobile radar trailer and print police trading cards to distribute to schoolchildren so they can become familiar with law enforcement officers.

Council members approved Skogh’s request for the radios, but decided to rent rather than buy, saying that a new countywide communications system scheduled to be operating by 1998 will include new equipment.

The council rejected Skogh’s recommendation for a $19,000 radar trailer, saying it would be too expensive.

In Villa Park, the City Council earmarked $14,834 in COPS funds for the city’s contribution to the countywide system, which will link all police departments and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

The rest of the city’s COPS allocation, which totals $28,600, will be used for related expenses.

A total of $8.1 million is being distributed in Orange County and disbursed according to cities’ populations.