BEREA — The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission is paying forward its good fortune from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, and donating used portable radios to local police and fire departments. The commission is providing up to 250 of its used MARCS Motorola radios to local fire and police departments who requested them as part of an application process. Deliveries began this week to the Ravenna Police Department and to the Streetsboro fire and police departments.
MARCS radios were donated to the following 23 fire or police departments in northern Ohio. Along with Ravenna and Streetsboro safety forces, those agencies in Portage County that have or will receive radios include the Charlestown, Deerfield, Edinburg, Mantua-Shalersville, Palmyra, Paris, Ravenna Township, Rootstown and Windham fire departments, and the Windham Police Department.
MARCS is a 700/800 MHz radio and data network. It uses state-of-the-art trunked technology to provide statewide inoperability in digital clarity to users throughout Ohio and a 10-mile radius outside of Ohio. MARCS provides statewide, secure, reliable wireless communication for public safety and first responders.
"In an effort to promote MARCS and the overall interoperability between the Ohio Turnpike and first responders in its neighboring communities, we decided to pay our good fortune forward," said Executive Director Randy Cole. "These radios are still in good working condition and are expected to last another 3-5 years."
"Moving to the MARCS radio system can be a very challenging endeavor for smaller municipalities such as Streetsboro due to the high cost of equipment," Streetsboro Police Chief Darin Powers said. "The radios from the Ohio Turnpike will help our safety forces make that move sooner by providing us with a more reliable and interoperable communication system."
The radios became available when the commission decided to purchase new ones. They were originally provided to the Ohio Turnpike through a shared services agreement with the highway patrol.
First responders still interested in the program may contact Cory Skoczen, Ohio Turnpike safety services manager, at 440-971-2040.