First responders unable to communicate with each other in emergency situations for lack of radio power are getting a $3.4 million boost.

That money will soon be here via federal stimulus money passed through Homeland Security, State Rep. Jerry McPeak, D-Warner, announced Tuesday night.

The money will pay for 800 megahertz radios and towers. The first in Oklahoma to get the new technology was the Interstate 44 corridor, McPeak said.

“Then, we became their No. 1 priority ... with $3.4 million to fix this thing here in our area,” McPeak said. “It will go for the safety of our people in northeastern Oklahoma.”

McPeak told smiling fire and police officials, deputy sheriffs, the new 911 director, police chiefs in surrounding towns — a roomful of people about the stimulus money at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

“It’s always amazing what you can do together,” McPeak said, praising the cooperation between the different agencies in Muskogee County.

Is the $3.4 million enough to get the job done?

“No, but it’s sure going to get us on our way,” McPeak said.

He said the different agencies and officials involved will continue to work to get more help.

The program will have a tremendous impact in disasters or emergencies, enabling the different agencies to know where to go, officials said.

“It will be like going from analog phones to digital phones,” said Muskogee County Sheriff Charles Pearson. “We (different agencies) can all talk to one another. It’s a wonderful tool.”

Right now, there are agencies working off different frequencies, he said.

One of the new hand-held radios will cost about $3,000 each, a police captain said.

“It’s like buying a car,” McPeak said. “We’re going to get the car. Are we going to get a certain kind of hubcaps?”

“Or an air conditioner,” said Deputy Police Chief Johnny Teehee, grinning.

When asked who the county’s Emergency Medical Service can communicate with now, Executive Director Terri Mortensen said, “Each other and the Sheriff’s Office — not city police, fire or the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.”

Teehee said many police officers buy extra phones with their own money so they can communicate with more agencies.

Some agencies here are operating on 1980s technology — and some on 1950s technology, Pearson said.

The police are operating with 25-year-old radio equipment, and “mine is 30 years old,” Pearson said. “It doesn’t work at all in some parts of the county.”

There may have to be a tower or two built, McPeak said.

He also said he believed the money will be released within a year.

Officials said the 800 MHz system will allow communication throughout the state.

“I’m tickled to death,” McPeak said.



Radio frequency



Megahertz is a measure of radio frequency or the speed of a computer processor, equal to a million hertz, or cycles per second.



Reach Donna Hales at 918-684-2923 or Click Here to Send Email