Lompoc police get a radio upgrade after decades of old technology

For the first time in more than 30 years, Lompoc police officers received new portable radios on May 5.

Police Chief Kevin Martin said officers received more modern devices as part of a $4 million plan to replace the city’s three-decade-old radio network. 

“My biggest concern was the portables police officers were carrying,” Martin said. “Our radio maintenance staff was buying parts off of eBay to keep technology running for us.”

Cell towers still need to be erected to operate the new radio frequencies, Martin said. He said he’s hopeful that can be completed by the end of the year.

The plan to replace the radios began almost two years ago, he said, adding that the new system will help the department keep up with federal compliance. 

“We’re going from a single-band radio to a tri-band radio system in compliance with the FCC’s P25 requirements,” Martin said. “We’re going from one radio to three radios, so they can operate on all the different required frequencies.”

Sgt. Scott Morgan said he’s been using the same radios for the 21 years he’s been with Lompoc Police Department. He said dealing with radio malfunctions during emergencies only adds pressure during high-stress situations. 

“Sometimes, if we’re in certain areas—outer ranges of a city, an apartment complex, in the hospital, or even our own building—we have difficulty communicating with each other and with dispatch,” Morgan said.

Officers have to call each other on their cellphones if they can’t reach each other through the radio system, he said. The new radio system will eliminate this obstacle, which Morgan said should help speed up response times. 

Martin said city police officers also received new body cameras, which were funded by City Council as part of the 2022-24 budget.

“Every officer that’s out in the field is carrying a body cam,” Martin said. “Anybody that has any potential contact with the public should have one on, our community service officers … and our jail staff as well.”

This article appears in May 8-18, 2025.