Reed Delivers $175,000 Earmark to Upgrade Bristol PD Mobile Command Center

BRISTOL, RI - Hundreds of thousands of visitors and spectators from near and far are preparing to flock to the streets of Bristol this weekend for a host of patriotic festivities.

U.S. Senator Jack Reed today teamed up with the Bristol Police Department (Bristol PD) and Bristol Town Administrator Steven Contente to boost public safety ahead of the Town's historic Fourth of July celebrations by officially launching an upgraded mobile command unit, made possible by a $175,000 federal earmark secured by Reed.

The mobile command unit is a public safety asset that plays an instrumental role in Bristol PD's presence at the Fourth of July parade and other large-scale events, weather disasters, or major emergencies. The fully-loaded truck can be deployed as a mobile headquarters and is essential during events that require unified command operations and on-scene coordination between multiple departments and first responders.

"All Rhode Islanders know that Bristol has the best Fourth of July celebration in the nation, and that's in no small part because of the immense planning and work that goes into safely putting on the parade and festivities each year, including the critical work of the Bristol Police Department," said Senator Reed. "Ensuring large-scale events like this run smoothly requires flexibility and the preparation to respond to a wide-range of possible emergencies. Bristol's mobile command unit plays a key role in this event and other big community events in the Town and neighboring communities. I was proud to deliver this $175,000 federal earmark to retool and upgrade the mobile unit and ensure Bristol police officers have the tools and equipment they need to safely and effectively protect and serve the community."

"This upgraded mobile command center embodies Bristol's laser-focus on preparedness for any kind of emergency throughout our Town. The modernized equipment and capabilities of this mobile unit, made possible by Senator Reed's support, will help to boost public safety and interoperability in Bristol for years to come," said Bristol Town Administrator Steven Contente.

Senator Reed joined Bristol police officers, including Captain Roman Wozny who helped lead this important project for the department, and Police Chief Kevin M. Lynch to show off the refurbished, high-caliber mobile command vehicle, which has received a full retooling and modernization. The multi-year upgrade process included mechanical repairs performed by Brisbon Diesel, a full dispatch system installation by Marcus Communications, emergency lighting upgrades by Island Tech, and interior electronics and tower camera upgrades by LDV.

"This mobile command vehicle is over 20 years old but thanks to the help of Senator Reed and the steadfast work of Captain Roman Wozny, it now meets the 21^st century policing needs for our officers to respond to a wide range of emergency situations across our community," said Bristol Police Chief Kevin M. Lynch. "From our police boat and fire boat in Bristol Harbor to this upgraded mobile command unit on the streets of Bristol, we are grateful for Senator Reed's dedicated support for public safety and our Town."

Originally purchased in 2004, Senator Reed's federal earmark also enabled the addition of four new computer workstations; new LED emergency lighting; and a full renovation of the vehicle itself. Thanks to the significant overhaul of the critical command center, Bristol PD anticipates that the upgraded mobile unit will continue to serve the community for many years to come.

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