SHELBY COUNTY, Texas (KTRE) – Shelby County Police are looking for solutions to resolve radio communication issues.

Last week, Shelby County police conducted a test run of new radios. PCT 5 Officer Josh Tipton said the department uses analog radios and officers sometimes can’t hear clearly. In those cases, Tipton said, they call dispatch on their cell phones.

To ensure the safety of officers and enable them to respond effectively in emergencies, the agency is testing six rapid radio walkie-talkies as a possible replacement. The radios are frequency-based and cannot be connected to a scanner.

With permission from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, analog radio is used as a backup and Rapid Radios as the primary source.

“We are not purchasing these radios to protect the public from our activities or to keep them away from scanners,” Tipton said.

While the district administration is applying for grants to build new cell towers in the region, Tipton is convinced that this is the best alternative for now.

The average cost of a standard digital radio system is $30,000 compared to $400 for a pair of radios.

“So we could equip the entire county, police officers, sheriff’s deputies, highway patrol officers, all of us, for a fraction of the price of what this new digital system would cost,” Tipton said.

During a demonstration at Wednesday’s special meeting, PCT 4 Commissioner Tom Bellmyer spoke with PCT 4 Justice of the Peace Tracy Broadway about the new radios. Broadway was in his office in Timpson.

Tipton says they have two weeks left to use the radios and test signal strength.

“Looking at how well they’re working, they’re working great so far,” Tipton said.

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