LAPD Portable Radios Are Suffering

The Los Angeles Police Department’s’ portable radios have long exceeded their lifespan, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times, forcing officers to use their personal cellular telephones to communicate. The department has 10,500 Motorola ASTRO radios, which were cutting-edge when they were purchased between 1996 and 1998. Motorola stopped making the radio in 2002, and this is the last year it will supply ASTRO parts for customers, forcing users to cannibalize other radios to make repairs. LAPD officials say they tear apart about 100 radios a year for parts, and repair 80 to 100 radios a week. Officials say it would coast at least $25 million to replace the radios, money the city doesn’t have. Read more here.