-Press Release-
For Immediate Release
April 2, 2007
Contact: Fire Chief Richard Elliott
(626) 338-8800 Phone
(626) 338-9720 Fax

Congresswoman Solis Supports Public Safety
WEST COVINA, CA - On Wednesday, April 4, 2007, firefighters and police officers from the City of West Covina will be meeting with Congresswoman Hilda Solis to thank her for supporting local public safety.

Congresswoman Solis has been instrumental in securing special funding in the amount of $494,005 to purchase state-of-the-arts communications equipment to facilitate radio communications between police officers and firefighters in the field.

Prior to the congressional funding, firefighters working an emergency incident did not have the capability to communicate with police officers working on the same incident except by having dispatchers transmit and re-broadcast the information from an off-site location.

In addition to providing funding for the communications equipment, Congresswoman Solis was capable of providing funds for improving security at the City's Police Headquarters and for the Fire Department to purchase and equip a specialized emergency response trailer.

For firefighters, the new Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) trailer, improves access to emergency equipment needed for major incidents involving 50 to 100 ill or injured patients. The CERT trailer can be rapidly deployed to any location within West Covina or throughout the Southern California regional area.

According to Fire Chief Richard Elliott, "The CERT trailer dramatically improves our ability to effectively manage a large-scale event and gives us the tools to help a large number of people in an efficient time frame." Chief Elliott advised that the equipment carried on this type of trailer would be well suited for response to major earthquakes, train derailments, and terrorist events.

Funding will also support CERT training for the Community. This FEMA approved training prepares Citizens to help themselves and their neighbors. Fire Captain Jim Rudroff says, "The training that has been given the Citizens, combined with this new emergency equipment, makes them part of the solution to a Disaster. The CERT trained Citizens work in partnership with the usual Responders we see after an incident, Police, Fire, and Public Works."

The meeting with Congresswoman Solis will be at 12:00 noon at West Covina Fire Station Two, 2441 E. Cortez Avenue, West Covina.


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