City approves police radio system

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- Communication is key to any successful venture,

especially when public safety is concerned, city officials said last week

as they approved a $626,288 police department radio system.

Council members voted unanimously to fund an antenna system that will

provide clear reception to three officers stationed at South Coast Plaza.

Last year, the Costa Mesa Police Department changed to the new 800-MHz

radio system but certain areas of the city had poor or little reception.

Most of the affected areas could be fixed using existing equipment but

the area surrounding South Coast Plaza -- on Bristol and Bear streets --

did not improve.

Costa Mesa Police Capt. Tom Warnack said mall officials have agreed to

share the cost of installation of the radio system within the common

areas and parking garages of South Coast Plaza and Plaza Bear Street

shopping locations. South Coast Plaza will contribute $200,000, he said.

Warnack also said the city is negotiating with some of the major

anchor retailers in the shopping center for the same kind of partnership.

The council approved the remaining funds with the expectation that

money would come from other private sources.

“Hopefully we will get the rest of the funding,” Councilwoman Karen

Robinson said.

Warnack confirmed the police department expected to garner more

financial backing.

One resident felt the system should be funded entirely by the private

sector. Doug Scribner, also a representative of the Libertarian Party of

Orange County, said the city was spending too much money protecting

“incredibly rich merchants” in an area with a relatively low crime rate.

“They can spend a lot more of their own money to defend themselves

against crime,” Scribner said. “Why doesn’t the city invest this type of

money on the Westside, where crime is actually a problem?”