SAFFORD — Safford Police are getting a series of upgrades thanks to the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs.
ADEMA granted the city’s Police Department $539,701 for a number of pieces of new equipment.
“As we know, (Graham) County, which runs dispatch, are upgrading from an analog to a digital system,” said Safford Police Chief Brian Avila, “and part of that upgrade was for . . . portable as well as mobile radios.”
Total equipment cost is $698,894, which, in addition to the new radios, includes a new vehicle for the department, a drone and mobile data terminals for squad cars. The funds are also to be used for overtime for officers conducting drug interdiction efforts.
That brings the total to $728,894, which necessitated Avila seeking approval from the City Council on Monday to use $189,193 in contingency funds to offset the deficit.
The council voted unanimously is support of Avila’s request.
