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Police spend $1.8M to upgrade new radio system After spending approximately $18 million in 2010 for a new voice radio system, Halton police and Halton Region are spending nearly $2 million more to ensure the system stays current. Last week, Halton Regional Police Services Board members approved a police service recommendation to spend $1.8 million for a six-year System Upgrade Agreement with Motorola Solutions Canada Inc., which supplied the Motorola P25 voice-radio system. The new system became functional earlier this year. A report from police service staff stated the $1.8 million will pay for three system upgrades over the course of the six-year contract, thus keeping the system up-todate during that period. The three major upgrades will occur on a biannual basis. They will consist of the following: · Minor software upgrades, known as patch releases. This may include commercial operating software and application software patches and service pack updates. · Major software upgrades, known as system release upgrades. This will be done when such upgrades are available and will not exceed one major software upgrade on a two-year period. · The following hardware components are eligible for full product replacement when necessary to make the eligible system release upgrades: servers, PC workstations, routers, LAN switches, base stations and consoles. When questioned by board members about the need for this service upgrade agreement, police staff said this is the most economical way of keeping the service's radio system up-to-date, reliable and to prevent its degradation. Acting-Police Chief Andrew Fletcher and Deputy Chief Robert Percy told the board that by keeping the system up-todate, it will help mitigate major expenses in the future, such as by having to replace the communications system again. Further, should the police board decide to sign the agreement several years down the road, it would still be required to pay for the upgrades it has missed in the interim. The cost for the agreement is $301,715 per year, for a total of just more than $1.8 million over the life of the six-year contract. The cost will be split 77 per cent by the police department and 23 per cent by Halton Region on behalf of the other radio project partners. The police service will have an option to renew the agreement for an additional sixyear term with a three per cent annual escalator applied to the cost. 11 · Thursday, August 16, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com Presents The 17th Annual A Fundraising Initiative of The Rotary Club of Burlington Lakeshore 11:59 FREE! it's never too late to shop! RegisteR start sh today, o & We'll s pping. hip it Stage Sponsor CanadasLargestRibfest.com Labour Day Weekend! Aug. 31st - Sept. 3rd Spencer Smith Park, Burlington ONE LOCATION 2269 FAIRVIEW STREET, BURLINGTON · 905-631-6000 INDOO FROM AUGUST 10TH TO AUGUST 19TH 2012 TENT SALE R 20%-70% OFF · ODDS & ENDS · SCRATCH & DENT · DISCONTINUED