The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) has awarded the Andalusia Police Department a $24,000 grant for a new communications system.

The department applied for the funding last fall, and plans to purchase a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system for the police communications center.

Funding was announced by Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday.

This new system will enable communications officers the ability to dispatch the closest officer to a call by choosing the most available officer based on the displayed availability monitored by the CAD system, Chief Paul Hudson said. It also will shorten the response times for calls for service, and provide communications officers with important information to provide to the officers including, call history as related to location, similar incidents or active warrants for service on all calls for service dispatched by the Andalusia Police Department.

“The opportunity to provide better services to our citizens by improving response time, improving officer safety by having the ability to provide officers with call history information will be an asset to our city,” Hudson said. “I’m thankful for the award made by Gov. Ivey and look forward to continuing and improving the work that our department does to protect the lives and property of citizens and visitors through improved technology and training.”

The cities of Ozark and Union Springs, and Geneva County received similar grants.

“Our police officers and sheriff’s deputies often work in highly dangerous situations and deserve the best equipment possible while serving and protecting residents,” Ivey said. “I am happy to assist in the efforts of these law enforcement agencies as they continue to serve their communities.”

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Justice. ADECA manages a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, economic development, infrastructure upgrades, recreation, energy conservation, water resources management and career development.