On Monday, February 26th, a delegation comprising Rains County Sheriff M. Hopkins, Rains County EMC Joe Parker, Commissioner Jeremy Cook, and Chief Deputy Rojo made a significant trip to Kilgore with a crucial mission. The purpose of their journey was to address the pressing issue of inadequate radio infrastructure that has been hindering the operations of law enforcement, volunteer fire departments, and emergency services within Rains County.
The team revealed that their radio equipment, including portable radios and dispatch consoles, had far surpassed their expected lifespan, leading to communication failures during critical moments. Over the past year, they had been diligently working on finding a solution to this pressing issue.
Their efforts culminated in a presentation before the East Texas Council of Governments, where they laid out their requirements and sought assistance in securing funding to address the communication infrastructure shortcomings. Fortunately, their appeal did not go unheard.
"We were granted funding towards our goals in correcting these communication failures," Sheriff Hopkins announced. The funding, they revealed, would be instrumental in implementing necessary upgrades that would ensure successful communication channels for various agencies, including law enforcement, volunteer fire departments, emergency management, Rains I.S.D. P.D., DPS, and the Game Warden.
While acknowledging that the plan for comprehensive corrective measures is a long-term endeavor, with ambitions stretching beyond a year, the officials expressed gratitude to all those involved in making this progress possible.
"We would like to say thank you for all members that were present today during our presentation," Sheriff Hopkins conveyed, extending appreciation to the East Texas Council of Governments, Joe Parker, Jeremy Cook, and Chief Deputy David Rojo for their unwavering dedication and commitment to serving Rains County and its citizens, as well as supporting all law enforcement and volunteer fire departments within the area.
