Recycled Radios Offer An Effective Alert System

Matthew Norcross, Salem, New Hampshire Police Department’s SRO, came up with a way to expedite police responses by putting older, unused police radios to use in schools. He stationed the retired radios in local schools and programmed them to call local police with the press of a button. Police receive the name of the school signaling the alert and begin two-way communication instantly, and without the delay often caused by other emergency notifications or systems. The police and schools worked together to develop procedures for the use, practice, and regular testing of the radios. For more information on this program, contact SRO Norcross at mnorcross@salempd.com.