MANSFIELD–After a nearly seven month process, Richland County Sheriff Steve Sheldon announced that on Nov. 3, the Richland County Sheriff’s Office went live on the Multi-Agency Radio Communications System (MARCS).
Wanting to improve sheriff’s office response capabilities and Deputy safety, Sheriff Sheldon tasked his staff with developing a plan to improve radio communications. The old system was dated and becoming unreliable due to changes with federal regulations and the age of the equipment.
After months of consultation, testing and cost exploration it was determined the MARCS radio system was the best and most cost effective solution. With the support of the Richland County Board of Commissioners the radio project was funded without an increase of taxes.
As part of the project, radio equipment was provided to three other agencies for which Richland County 911 provides dispatching services. The Bellville, Butler and Plymouth Police Departments were provided mobile radios, portable radios and mobile vehicle repeaters allowing Richland County 911 to continue to provide dispatching services to the agencies.
Since the live date the sheriff’s office’s radio communications have greatly improved. The instances of inoperable and/or inaudible transmissions have nearly been eliminated producing a safer environment for both the citizens of Richland County and the employees of the sheriff’s office.
With the newly forged relationship with MARCS, the sheriff’s office has partnered with MARCS to implement the MARCS in school programs in Richland County. The program places MARCS radios in participating schools providing direct communications to the sheriff’s office Dispatch Center during critical incidents.
To date the participating districts, including Clear Fork Local Schools, Crestview Local Schools, Lucas Local Schools and the Madison Local Schools, have taken advantage of the program. The sheriff plans to add more schools to the program as additional radios become available.
Sheriff Sheldon thanks the Richland County Board of Commissioners, Richland County 911 and MARCS for their assistance. Without their assistance and support this project would not have come to realization.
