Jim Wells County approves $44,645.92 to connect to Alice public-safety radio system
July 11, 2026 | Jim Wells County, Texas
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The Jim Wells County Commissioners Court on July 10 approved $44,645.92 to subsidize a gateway device that will allow county radios to connect to the city of Alice’s P25 800 megahertz public-safety radio system.
County leadership described the purchase as a phase 1 measure to expand portable radio coverage across the county and to improve interoperability among sheriff, police, and multiple fire departments. “This system allows us to have access for all of those different users,” fire chief Patrick Thomas said during a presentation to the court, describing better coverage, reduced radio congestion and enhanced security.
Presenters showed coverage maps and explained the gateway will avoid the need for multiple new towers by tying Jim Wells County into a regional network, the Coastal Bend Regional Interoperability Network. Aden Garcia, described in the record as a police chief involved in the project presentation, said most of the core system cost has been covered by grants and that the county’s contribution covers a device that lets existing county radios connect without full reprogramming.
County staff told commissioners that grant funding—including grant programs cited in the record and Operation Lone Star—has already underwritten much of the work and that the county has spent substantial sums to date. Patrick Thomas said the county is “probably nearing close to 1,000,000” spent so far on the project and described the gateway as a way to phase equipment upgrades for smaller agencies.
A commissioner asked whether the new system would prevent public scanner monitoring; presenters confirmed the system is more secure and can restrict public access when necessary for operational and CJIS reasons. The court approved the funding by voice vote after a motion and second; the judge said the city must still approve language in the agreement and place it on the city agenda before the connection proceeds.
Next steps: the court approved the county portion; staff will finalize the memorandum with Alice and provide receipts and accounting for grant-funded purchases as the county ties into the regional system.
County leadership described the purchase as a phase 1 measure to expand portable radio coverage across the county and to improve interoperability among sheriff, police, and multiple fire departments. “This system allows us to have access for all of those different users,” fire chief Patrick Thomas said during a presentation to the court, describing better coverage, reduced radio congestion and enhanced security.
Presenters showed coverage maps and explained the gateway will avoid the need for multiple new towers by tying Jim Wells County into a regional network, the Coastal Bend Regional Interoperability Network. Aden Garcia, described in the record as a police chief involved in the project presentation, said most of the core system cost has been covered by grants and that the county’s contribution covers a device that lets existing county radios connect without full reprogramming.
County staff told commissioners that grant funding—including grant programs cited in the record and Operation Lone Star—has already underwritten much of the work and that the county has spent substantial sums to date. Patrick Thomas said the county is “probably nearing close to 1,000,000” spent so far on the project and described the gateway as a way to phase equipment upgrades for smaller agencies.
A commissioner asked whether the new system would prevent public scanner monitoring; presenters confirmed the system is more secure and can restrict public access when necessary for operational and CJIS reasons. The court approved the funding by voice vote after a motion and second; the judge said the city must still approve language in the agreement and place it on the city agenda before the connection proceeds.
Next steps: the court approved the county portion; staff will finalize the memorandum with Alice and provide receipts and accounting for grant-funded purchases as the county ties into the regional system.
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