SW Oklahoma ARPA Regional Alliance - City of Lawton

PROJECT PURPOSE

This project supports emergency operations in the Lawton Community by providing 50 new fully electric police patrol vehicles to replace vehicles in fleet that are more than 10 years old, better serving the community and improving air quality, and includes a charging station at the new Public Safety Center. This project also replaces the more than 15 year old radio system which was placed in service in 2006; radios being the primary device for communicating with Dispatch and other Responding Units are vital for the Safety of the responders and an essential element of the Infrastructure for Fire, Police and EMS. Finally, this projects also includes the design and construction of a new Emergency Operations Center to be constructed adjacent to the historic Central Fire Station in Lawton's downtown. The Center will house emergency planning and operations staff and well as our complete E-911 dispatch center.

EVIDENCE

The benefits of electric vehicle conversation and an updated radio system as self evident. Clear and continuing emergency communications and operations are critical to public safety.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

While the proposed improvements serve the entire community, elderly residents and struggling, lower income neighborhoods rely heavily on police, fire, and emergency communications. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted our ability to provide these services and sustain critical emergency operations.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

The return on investment of electric police vehicles can be determined from decreased fuel and maintenance costs. Likewise the reliability of the new radio system can be measured directly. The need for a dedicated Emergency Management Center has been proven from several past weather related disasters, where breakdowns/loss of communication exacerbated the situation, to include the COVID-19 pandemic which impacted our E911 communications staff.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma