Illinois Taps Motorola

Motorola Inc. has been selected to provide a statewide public safety radio network for the Illinois State Police.

Motorola of Schaumberg, Ill., and the Illinois State Police are negotiating the final contract terms, state officials said Dec. 22. The contract value is estimated at $50 million, said Steve Gorecki, a Motorola spokesman.

Illinois will grant the state police $25 million to help fund the public safety radio network, said Gov. George Ryan Dec. 22. The grant will be used to purchase radio equipment for the new Starcom21 wireless state radio system, said Ryan. The state also will lease time on the new network to be constructed by Motorola.

The new radio system will be phased in over the next three years, and will accommodate other federal, state, county and local public safety agencies on the leased network.