JCPD grant to modernize equipment

$13,000 grant allows for upgrades to emergency operations center

The Jefferson City Police Department will soon go through an upgrade to its training room, allowing for new equipment to upgrade the emergency operations center.

Capt. Eric Wilde said Phillips 66 offered to provide $13,000 through its corporate citizenship grant to fund the upgrades. Wilde gave a presentation to the Public Safety Committee last week, which approved accepting the grant. The full Jefferson City Council is expected to sign off on the grant at its Tuesday meeting.

Wilde said the project will include installing and upgrading:

• Multiple video projectors and screens to display emergency management information and training materials;

• Audio equipment for audio and video review;

• HDMI matrix switch to allow for multiple computer screens to be displayed as needed on the projector screens;

• Audio/video cabinet for secure component storage;

• Smart Board desktop display for navigating training presentation and computer screen manipulation and mapping enhancements.

The city is not required to provide any matching funds for the project, he said.

Wilde said the new equipment will help increase effectiveness of emergency operations during an incident.

Once the grant is approved by the council, Wilde said the department will begin moving forward on the project. As the department also is in the process of installing a new HVAC system, Wilde said they took advantage of the work in the training room to take care of some of the wiring needed to install the new equipment.

Wilde said he hopes to have some of the equipment in place by Jan. 1.