FARMINGTON — School representatives and law enforcement agencies plan to improve communication with new equipment and technology that will allow police to focus their attention on a specific area in emergency situations.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office has received a $347,495 federal grant, with collaboration from police in Carrabassett Valley, Farmington, Jay, Rangeley and Wilton. School districts involved in the grant application in greater Franklin County are Regional School Unit 9 in the Farmington area, RSU 73 in the Jay area, Maine School Administrative District 58 in the Kingfield area, RSU 78 in the Rangeley area, and the Stratton school system.

The grant will provide for better radio systems, which is especially needed in the rural areas. It will cover schools from Livermore in northern Androscoggin County to schools in Eustis and Rangeley in northern Franklin County, which borders Canada.

The Healthy Community Coalition helped write the grant application and will be involved in implementation, according to Franklin County Sgt. Ryan Close, who was instrumental in the grant process.

“The grant is primarily for funding of equipment and technology and we’ve added the piece of training because equipment and technology is only so good when the people who know how to use it,” he said.

The money will pay for infrastructure improvements such as better door locks for schools and hardware, including reinforced doors, Close said.

Those involved are still working on the...

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