- Posted in All University
- Category: Campus News
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. – The Lincoln University Department of Public Safety recently received 30 new radios valued at approximately $120,000. The Chester County Emergency Management department provided the radios in an ongoing effort to include all emergency responders in the county’s system.
According to Public Safety Director Ruth A. Evans, the department had such old radios that the frequency in some areas on campus was poor.
“As of now, we can transmit from any area on campus and quickly reach Chester County radio room for emergency assistance. We are truly grateful!” said Evans.
Some of the many Public Safety employees gathered in front of the Lions Stadium on June 30 wearing the new radios. Pictured from left: Officer Stephen Mengini, Officer Robert Basquill, Officer Matthew DiEmedio, Officer Asim John, Officer Duncan Smith, Officer Clarence Stevens, K-9 Officer Kevin Thompson, Corporal Michael Barrett, Corporal Kevin Myers
Chief of Police James Connor reached out to the Oxford Regional Emergency Management to inquire if Lincoln University could be included in the county system. Chester County stepped up by providing for the use of 30 state-of-the-art Harris radios, which would normally cost about $4,000 each.
Connor said, “I can be in Philadelphia at Kimmel Center and hear what’s going on at Lincoln. They’re that good!”
“The county provided Lincoln with a separate channel so we could continue to self-dispatch, but the radios create the capability of communicating throughout the entire county by just changing the channel. We can also monitor the transmissions of all the neighboring agencies,” said Connor.
Corporal Kevin Myers wears the new radio provided by the county.
Chester County operates an emergency voice radio system that provides emergency voice communication for the County’s law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services responders. The county funded the radio system on January 4, 2016, at a total cost of $42.1 million.
Lincoln University’s main campus in Southern Chester County is patrolled by armed, sworn police officers and non-sworn security officers. Public Safety performs traditional and non-traditional police duties, crime prevention, fire safety, a K-9 unit and bike patrol. The department consists of the director, chief of police, three sergeants, three corporals, 14 police officers, and eight security officers.
More information about the Harris Radio System is available on the county website.