A bill recently passed in the House of Representatives would bring $1.35 million to the south suburbs for improvements in dispatch centers and computer equipment for squad cars.
The bill, approved by a vote of 259 to 157, still needs Senate approval.
The requests for improvements and new equipment were filed by the village administrators through U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.'s office earlier this year, spokesman Kenneth Edmonds said.
The dispatch center shared by Lynwood, Thornton and East Hazel Crest would get $350,000 for new equipment and software.
Money will go to upgrade the equipment and police radios to make them narrowband compliant and for next generation 911 software, Thornton Police Chief Norb Schlesser said.
The Federal Communications Commission has mandated all police agencies use narrowband compliant radios by 2013.
Homewood, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Hazel Crest, Riverdale and South Holland would receive $100,000 for their E-Com Dispatch Center, which handles the communities' emergency calls. Money would go towards installing an uninterrupted power supply and an environmental control center to cut down on energy costs.
"In many ways this is a green initiative," South Holland village administrator J Wynsma said. "The climate control will help the computers use less power keeping themselves cool."
The uninterrupted power supply system puts all computers on one "more sophisticated system," Wynsma said.
Thornton would get $100,000 to purchase and upgrade a computer system allowing police officers to file police reports from their squad cars and receive immediate dispatch alerts.
"This is newer technology. Some larger communities may already possess it and will certainly help in our law enforcement activity," Thornton Village Administrator Jason Wicha said.
Another $100,000 would go to the SouthCom Combined Dispatch Center that serves Matteson, Olympia Fields, Richton Park and Park Forest.
The rest of the federal money would be designated for anti-gang and anti-violence programs. Restoration Ministries in Harvey would get $200,000, CeaseFire Chicago would get $250,000, and $350,000 would go to the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
