December 4, 2024 Law Enforcement and Public Safety

The Ulster County Legislature's Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee met on December 4, 2024, to discuss several procurement and budget matters related to public safety infrastructure and services. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the ongoing upgrade of the Ulster County Public Safety Radio System, including presentations by consultants and Motorola representatives about expanding coverage, adding new radio sites, and integrating national interoperability channels to meet grant requirements. The committee considered capital project amendments to fund operational costs for the radio system and approved establishing a new capital project for a modern mobile command vehicle equipped with advanced communication technology. Additional procurement actions included contract amendments for juvenile diversion programs, upgrades to the Sheriff's Office body-worn and in-car cameras, purchase of sonar equipment for marine safety, and COVID testing services for the jail. Several resolutions were passed to approve these contracts and budget amendments, with discussions highlighting the importance of improved technology for first responders and ongoing efforts to secure grant funding. The meeting also addressed concerns about the juvenile diversion program's administration but focused primarily on procurement and capital improvements for public safety communications and equipment.