The U.S. House of Representatives has approved legislation that would give $200,000 to the City of Radford for state-of-the-art communications equipment in the future headquarters of the Radford Department of Police and 911 Communications Center. This is a major step in being funded for the equipment, but the bill must still pass through the Senate and be signed by President Bush in order for the City to officially be awarded funding.
“The potential to receive money to enhance and provide state-of-the-art equipment for the new Department of Police headquarters would be a tremendous asset to the City, taxpayers, and citizens of Radford,” said Mayor Tom Starnes. “City officials have worked for a number of years on this, and hopefully the Police Department will become a reality in the near future.”
Congressman Rick Boucher, who sponsored the bill, released a statement saying, “Streamlined and reliable communications between police officers, dispatchers, and the community members they serve is essential to ensure public safety and effective emergency response.”
Currently the 911 Communications Center is in a separate facility from the RDP, due to lack of space in the 100-year-old building that houses RDP Headquarters. New headquarters will bring both services back under the same roof and readily allow residents 24-hour access to the building.
While the City remains hopeful that this federal funding will come through, it continues to take steps toward making the new building a reality. In addition to pursuing other funding through grants and appropriations, the City purchased 1.09 acres at the corner of Rock Rd. and Wadsworth St. this past March as a probable location for the building. It will also begin work on a needs assessment in the coming months to determine everything that should be included in the facility.
Contact: Becky Hawke
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(540) 731-3603
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Queen Elizabeth, England's last Tudor monarch, came to the throne during a turbulent period in the nation's history. Although she has been described as vain, miserly, and fickle, she was remarkably successful as queen. During her reign, England pursued a policy of expansionism in commerce and geographical exploration, literature, and the arts flourished. The Elizabethan era saw the defeat of the Spanish Armada and the colonization of North America. Which US state is named after Elizabeth?
