The Plumas County Sheriff’s Office has initiated a major $1.63 million project to enhance law enforcement communications infrastructure spanning Plumas and Lassen counties. Approved by the Plumas County Board of Supervisors on January 20, the project leverages multiple federal grants to overhaul radio systems critical to emergency response.
The Lassen and Plumas County Emergency Communications Integration Project will replace and recalibrate radio equipment on mountain sites including Dyer Mountain, Red Hill, and Mt. Hough. Sheriff Chad Hermann emphasized the complexity and significance of the upgrade, calling it a comprehensive overhaul that moves beyond the previous patchwork fixes.
Funding for the project comes from several sources:
- $850,000 from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, part of a Biden administration grant allocated through congressional districts.
- $810,922 from the late Congressman Doug LaMalfa’s federal allocation.
- Approximately $780,563 from Title III of the Secure Rural Schools Act, a fund reserved for emergency and broadband telecommunications, which has been strategically saved over recent years.
The initiative was originally spearheaded by former Lassen County Sheriff Dean Growdan following the Dixie Fire, which damaged existing radio infrastructure. The upgrade will enable better coordination between counties, allowing operators in Lassen to handle Plumas emergency calls during outages, thereby improving information flow and response times.
To streamline procurement and maintenance, the Board approved expanding a contract with Berry Enterprises (operating as Sierra Electronics) from $350,000 to $2 million. This full source agreement, valid for up to 15 years, ensures a single vendor manages the complex communications system, reducing costs and preserving institutional knowledge.
The project is expected to be completed by 2026, marking a significant step forward in emergency communication capabilities for both counties.
