EMERGENCY RADIO SYSTEM NEEDS UPGRADE

ON MONDAY THE SIOUX CITY COUNCIL WILL HEAR ABOUT THE NEED TO UPGRADE THE TRI-STATE AREA'S EMERGENCY RADIO COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM.

POLICE CHIEF DOUG YOUNG SAYS THE STARCOMM SYSTEM FROM MOTOROLA ALLOWS AREA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO DIRECTLY COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER.

HE SAYS THE SEVEN YEAR OLD SYSTEM IS AGING AND NEEDS A SOFTWARE UPGRADE. IT WAS LAST UPGRADED IN 2008 THROUGH A TWO MILLION DOLLAR GRANT:



YEARLY UPGRADES OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS WOULD TOTAL OVER THREE MILLION DOLLARS.

SIOUX CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR AROUND 58 PER CENT OF THE COST OF THE SYSTEM.