UNCP awarded $25K equipment grant for public safety

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NC Public Safety Secretary Erik Hooks, right, met with Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings after presenting the university with a grant to purchase public safety equipment

UNC Pembroke Police & Public Safety will be able to communicate more clearly with outside law enforcement agencies and first responders thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Governor’s Crime Commission.

McDuffie Cummings Jr., chief of the Police and Public Safety Department, said the funds will be used to purchase five high-frequency police radios. 

“Robeson County is the process of switching over to an 800-megahertz network which is also known as the VIPER  system. Currently, UNCP does not have the capability to communicate with first responders in the county. However, with these new radios, we will begin to build this communication infrastructure.

“That was the goal of this grant–to enhance our communication infrastructure across campus and with outside agencies.”

N.C. Public Safety Secretary Erik Hooks and Caroline Valand, executive director of the Governor’s Crime Commission presented UNCP officials with the 2018 Department of Public Safety grant on Wednesday. Hooks met with members of the local law enforcement community and other county leaders at the Thomas Entrepreneurship Hub in downtown Pembroke.

“In the Department of Public Safety, we continue to engage in building robust partnerships and engaging critical stakeholders, so I am extremely grateful for the collaboration with our local partners, who-at every turn-impact the safety of so many in this great state,” Hooks said.

“As a veteran in public law enforcement, I understand that funding is critical in carrying out our public safety mission. It is important that we leverage every dime and every dollar that we can to enhance our public safety mission.”

During his visit, Secretary Hooks also discussed school safety, campus safety and public safety grants available to law enforcement and presented grant awards to the Maxton and Rowland police departments.