Police Radio Units Arrive – Marion Weekly Leader, Feb. 1, 1945
Department will be Equipped with Two-way Communication
The first units of a two-way radio system for the Marion Police Department were on hand awaiting installation Tuesday.
When installed, the system will provide two-way communication between police headquarters and officers on patrol in the police car.
In addition, Mayor Harry L. Crisp revealed he is purchasing at his own expense similar equipment for his own automobile. The mayor, who has charge of the police department, will be able to keep in contact by radio at all times with police headquarters.
Mayor Crisp explained that the control station will be supervised by a radio engineer and that each operator in charge of a unit of the radio equipment will hold a permit obtained by the city from the Federal Communication Commission.
Should Sheriff William Shannon later obtain radio equipment the county transmitters would be licensed through the city’s radio system. Shannon has sought for several months to obtain county funds to equip his office and sheriff’s automobiles with radio communications.
Although installation of the city’s equipment is not expected to require any considerable length of time, Mayor Crisp said he had no assurance when all of the materials would be delivered. The Mayor and Chief of Police Bob Ramsey recently inspected the new police radio system installed by the Harrisburg police department and studied its operation.
Police Radio Goes on Air at City Hall – Marion Weekly Leader, March 29, 1945
Marion Department Joins Southern Illinois Anti-crime Network
Radio Station WQHX was operating at the Marion city hall Monday morning as the police department joined a network of Southern Illinois police radio stations designed to speed up capture of criminals and detection of crime.
From a 65 foot antenna atop the city hall messages can be exchanged between the department and Harrisburg, Mt. Vernon, Salem, Taylorville and Cairo police departments as well as the Marion departments own patrol cars and the state police station at DuQuoin.
One receiver in the Marion police station monitors the DuQuoin state police station so that local police are in touch at all times with the state police network. Marion police can speak directly to police and sheriff’s automobiles in Saline County and with the police departments of other southern Illinois cities having radio equipment except Cairo to which calls must be relayed through DuQuoin. By the relay system, they can talk also to state police stations throughout the country.
In addition, to the police patrol car which is equipped with both sending and receiving equipment. Mayor Harry L. Crips who has charge of the police department, has radio equipment in his own automobile to permit him to keep in touch with the department at all times.
Sheriff William Shannon and Deputy Oral Houston have obtained radio operators license for similar equipment, but the sheriff’s office has not yet been equipped with radio.
(Source: Marion Weekly Leader newspaper, compiled by Sam Lattuca on 7/12/2024)