Massena PD Given Funds For New Tower, Antenna

MASSENA - Long-running communication problems in the Massena Police Department may soon be resolved after the village's Board of Trustees approved $12,079 to install a new police radio communications tower and antenna on the alleyway side of town hall.

The new tower will replace the existing one on the roof of the building, which Police Chief Timmy J. Currier estimated to be over 25 years old.

The cost for the tower and antenna is approximately $3,700, Mr. Currier said. The remaining $8,300 is for the labor involved in installing the new tower and removing the old one, he said.

"This type of equipment will enhance our operation," Mr. Currier said.

The village board also approved $1,890 for 42 new portable police radio batteries to replace the aging 4- to 7-year-old batteries in the fleet, Mr. Currier said.

Radio communication among Massena police officers has been a growing problem over the last several years due to increased cell phone use and other issues, Mr. Currier said. A police officer at one end of Massena often can't reach an officer at the other end due to numerous "dead zones" of communication throughout the village, he said.

The projects will be paid for with asset forfeiture funds, or monies the police receives from confiscated illegal drug sales, Chief Currier said.

"It's just like getting a grant," Mayor Randy G. DeLosh said at Tuesday's meeting.

Village police will see how the new improvements go, then decide if they also want to install a "repeater system," which would amplify the radio frequency and create a stronger signal between police officers, Mr. Currier said.

To do that, police would need to send an application to the Federal Communications Commission in order to place a repeater on Laurel Terrace, the tallest residential structure in Massena.

Last month, Village Trustee Joseph A. Macaulay, a member of the Massena Volunteer Fire Department, said the price for a repeater had been in the several thousand dollars range when firefighters were exploring their radio needs.

"We're going to take things one step at a time," Mr. Currier said.

Another plan the village rejected called for the new antenna to replace the old one on the roof of town hall. However, village and town officials raised concerns to Mr. Currier that completely removing the antenna and tower would damage the roof. Now, the old antenna will only be removed above the roof line so as not to compromise it, he said.