Warsaw Police Department recently acquired 35 Motorola HT1550 portable radios and supporting equipment with funding from the Kosciusko 21st Century Foundation.
The new portable radios replace antiquated radios that are, in some cases, more than a decade old and beyond the effective life span of the radio.
WPD has updated other portions of its communication network, but required assistance beyond its budget to do so.
K21 provided $35,823 toward the radio purchases.
The radios upgrade the Warsaw Police Department's communications to fully digital capabilities.
The Motorola HT1550 is capable of transmitting and receiving on 160 channels, and increasing the officer's ability to communicate with other agencies beyond the previous 16 channel radios.
Emergency and tactical capabilities may increase officer safety in life-threatening situations, according to Patrol Lt. Kip Shuter.
The portable radios, public safety microphones, holsters and programming equipment were purchased through Emergency Radio Service Inc., Elkhart.
