Harrison police tech upgrades will include Tasers, mobile radios and thermal imaging | TribLIVE.com

Nov 01, 2024

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Updated Tasers, radios and other equipment are expected to bring Harrison police into “modern times,” according to police Chief Brian Turack.

Knowing they have the latest technology will give the township’s 14 officers a confidence boost, Turack said.

“If you have an officer who is equipped to safely do their jobs, they’re going to be more able to do it more confidently,” he said.

He also believes it will contribute significantly to the safety of the community.

Radios currently used by officers are prone to breakdowns, Turack said. New mobile radios from Motorola will be placed in patrol vehicles and inside the department. They will be compatible with Allegheny County’s impending digital, two-way P25 system.

“It is the most updated technology for our officers to communicate with each other and with county dispatch,” Turack said.

The township radios are about 15 to 20 years old.

“Ours experience frequent malfunctioning, so I’m really excited to be able to purchase new ones,” Turack said.

The department was awarded nearly $155,000 through the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Local Share Account for the upgrades.

He said another important purchase with the grant will be five thermal monocular units. The imaging will help officers see through fog, dust, low light and other obstructions.

“We have an aging population, and people wander away from their home at night,” Turack said. “We also have kids who run. There are numerous instances where we could use these to help find people in the woods.”

Manager Amy Rockwell said the funding will relieve a financial burden from the township budget.

It also will cover 16 Tasers, seven dual-monitor computers, video cameras in the prisoner holding cells, building security measures and more.

Receiving the grant is “a tremendous step forward for Harrison police to make vital improvements,” Rockwell said.

Additional purchases will include new computers for the police department and a server that is compatible with updated requirements for the police evidence and reporting system. There also will be electronic door access controls installed and surveillance cameras on the building’s exterior and inside the cells and evidence room.

The cameras will allow the township to set up a safe exchange parking spot for people who are conducting online sales or doing custody exchanges.

“They can come to the building to meet in a safe, neutral place,” Turack said.

It is not clear when that will be ready.

The department also will get 16 Tasers, which Turack said provide a less-lethal force option to deescalate various situations.

He said the area has seen a major spike in mental health calls in the past 10 years, and Tasers allow officers to engage with and bring people into custody without putting the officer in potential harm from going hands-on.

Tawnya Panizzi is a TribLive reporter. She joined the Trib in 1997. She can be reached at [email protected].

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