Georgia-Pacific funds new radios to boost Diboll Police safety

Georgia-Pacific recently provided funding to the Diboll Police Department to purchase six new two-way radios. In a world filled with smartphones and cutting-edge electronics, it's easy to overlook the simplicity of a two-way radio. However, this tool continues to stand out as a reliable lifeline for police departments. Simple, dependable, and built for real-time communication, these devices play a critical role in helping officers do their jobs safely and effectively.

According to Diboll Police Chief Michael Skillern, these radios will replace the department’s outdated devices. “Our radios are about 20 years old. We couldn’t find replacement parts or even update the software; therefore, our coverage was limited in certain areas of the city,” said Skillern. “Since we have a limited budget and radios are expensive, we reached out to Georgia-Pacific, and they answered our call for help.”

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Each on-duty officer will now be equipped with a new radio, which will help support approximately 6,000 calls Diboll Police Officers respond to each year. According to Skillern, today’s radio systems have come a long way, with improved sound quality, wider coverage, and added features like GPS tracking and secure channels.

Pictured from (l to r) are Diboll Chief of Police Michael Skillern, Gio Moreland, Diboll Records Supervisor; Derek Roche, Georgia-Pacific Diboll Lumber Plant Manager; Ginger Pruitt, Diboll TPCA Program Manager; Nick LeBlanc, Diboll Police Officer; Matthew Repond, Diboll Police Sergeant; Pat Aldred, Georgia-Pacific Vice President of Composite Panels; and Yana Ogletree, Georgia-Pacific Public & Government Affairs, Texas.