The Stuart Police Department is planning on getting new equipment to help make their job easier. 

Police Chief David Reha says the department needs new radios and laptops to help better communicate between officers. Reha explains their current situation. 

“And right now, currently, we only had one portable radio to share amongst all of our officers. So you know, you can imagine certain calls there might be more than one Stuart Officer at and we can’t even talk to each other, let alone talk to dispatch or talk to other people.”

He adds if two Stuart Officers responded to an incident the only way to communicate was through their personal phone which is too slow in a crisis situation. Reha states that their computers are also crucial to the job and they are becoming obsolete. 

“Our computers get a little exposed to things that maybe your regular office computer wouldn’t because it’s in a car. It can be hot, it can be cold, it’s getting bumped around. So unfortunately, our old computers were starting to die on us and we were getting to the point where we needed new ones.”

Reha says the City Council agreed to use a portion of American Rescue Plan Funds and cover the rest with possible grants or city funds for the new equipment.