IUPD to undergo renovations

In a few weeks, the IU Police Department will be completely surrounded by yellow caution tape, and IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger is thrilled about it.\nFor the first time 35 in years, the department will undergo major renovations to add new equipment, thanks to a hefty $300,000 from the 2003 State Homeland Security Grant Program.\nIUPD will use the money to replace its dispatch system and install a higher radio tower with base radio equipment. \n"There's never been an influx of this much money to do this scale of renovations," Minger said.\nThe funds were allocated to the state of Indiana and funded by Monroe County Emergency Management. The grant specifies the money to be used for "the protection of the public and private central infrastructure." \nJohn Hooker III, Monroe County Emergency Management director, received the $300,000 and had the job of deciding how to allocate the money.\nHooker said he gathered merchant responders and determined that the No. 1 problem facing the county was communication.\nHooker said the IUPD currently serves as a backup to the central dispatch system. In an emergency situation, the IUPD assumes the role of the primary emergency responder. However, the aging dispatch system has potential to fail, Minger said. The new equipment will allow the IUPD to take over for the BPD more quickly and efficiently.\nMinger said the new equipment, which includes 13 800-megahertz portable state-of-the-art radios, will bring IUPD to the same technological level as the BPD, and if needed, IUPD can take over the emergency dispatch system.\n"We are ecstatic about having this grant to get us off and running," Minger said. "Emergency outlets in the state will be able to look at us as a flagship because we are finally making the change."\nHooker said the IUPD is long overdue to be "brought up to the 21st century."\nPatrick Luzadder, senior associate university architect, who has been assigned to the project, said the construction will be underway within a month.\nMinger said he was a little skeptical when he first learned the IUPD would receive the majority of the grant money.\n"It's always one of those things when you wait and wonder if it's going to happen," he said. "The date has been pushed and continues to be pushed back. When I'm constantly sitting here, I realize I want it done yesterday."\nLuzadder said the one challenge regarding the project has been the placement of new antennas.\nCurrently, the IUPD addresses different frequencies in emergency situations by utilizing a 50-foot antenna on top of the police station at Nelson Hall.\nHowever, to reach higher frequencies, Minger said there would need to be about 17 smaller antennas, each 4 to 8 feet and attached to a larger antenna.\nLuzadder said the University is currently evaluating three possible locations to place the array of antennas. "There's several considerations that we must take into account, like the need for emergency power and an emergency generator," Luzadder said. "Some locations don't have it and some do."\nLuzadder said the University is also contemplating the aesthetic side of the construction to make sure the project will be pleasing to passersby.\n"It would be better if we can locate (the antennas) off of the main campus," he said. Despite the delay in construction, Hooker said when it is all complete, he will rest easy knowing the money was well spent.\n"Communication is the one thing I have always stressed," Hooker said. "This is a team effort, and we needed to look at how the money would be used to benefit the county, and I believe this was the solution to our No. 1 problem."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.