The Gardner Police Department was awarded $25,402.23 from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. This foundation was set up for Hurricane Katrina emergency responders and survivors.

The department used this money to purchase seven new Motorola 900 MHz portable patrol radios. On this initiative, the Gardner Police [b]Chief, Jim Pruetting[/b] said, “This is an important first step in the replacement of all of the department’s aging portable patrol radios. The current inventory consists of older Motorola radios that are no longer being manufactured. As such, the ability to service and repair them will end over the next several years. So, this grant came at an opportune time.”

The department continues to look for additional funding to purchase 30 more radios. The [b]Gardner Police Chief[/b] also added, “Our radios are our communication lifeline in every situation we face on a day-to-day basis. We are grateful to the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation for its investment into our public safety efforts.”