Middlebury votes for new police radios

Middlebury, Conn. (WTNH) - Voters in Middlebury voted against a referendum that would give the police department new radios.

For years, Middlebury Police have had trouble with their police radios having dead spots all over town. For months now, they've been trying to get something done about it. Today, Middlebury voters get to decide if they want to pay for a new police radio system.

"It's a safety issue. Definitely a safety issue. And you know how frustrated you are with your cell phone when you can't reach home. Think how frustrated you are when you have a life or death situation at hand and you can't communicate," said Lt. Rich Wildman, Middlebury Police Department.

News Channel 8 showed you the problem last fall. When the radios do work, sometimes hand held units don't. But a new system from Motorola would cost upwards of $2 million. After a series of meetings, the town decided to leave it up to voters in a referendum.

"Like anything else, there's a price tag associated with it, but I think that we'll benefit in the long run," said Kathy Lewis of Middlebury.

The new system would have covered 95 percent of the town and also integrate police radios with other first responders.

"It's a town system. It's not just the police department or public safety. It's for the citizens also, and I think that's one of the important facts is that it's everybody's system," said Lt. Wildman.

Polls closed at 8 p.m. with residents voting down the proposal by a count of 727 to 645.