ORANGE CO. – First responders in Orange County are set to benefit from significantly improved communication, thanks to a $7,000 grant from the Orange County Community Foundation. Presented Monday from their 2025 Unrestricted Grant Cycle, the funds will help Orange County 911 Dispatch update its county-wide P25 radio system.
This crucial upgrade addresses a long-standing challenge for emergency services in the county’s rural, hilly, and often forested areas where radio and cell communication frequently fail.
Orange County Sheriff Davy Henderson emphasized the critical need for reliable communication, stating that some areas within the county’s mutual aid network have abysmal reception.
The new P25 system will significantly boost radio frequencies to 800 megahertz, a substantial improvement over the previous VHF system, which only transmitted up to 300 megahertz. This upgrade will ensure a solid and consistent line of communication between the 24/7 dispatch operation and field personnel.
This investment by the Orange County Community Foundation marks another vital step in enhancing the safety and response efforts of first responders, ensuring Hoosiers across Orange County remain safe.
