North Penn Region to Benefit from Major Merck Donation
New state-of-the-art mobile command center will manage critical incidents
in North Penn area
The North Penn Area Police Departments will soon have a modern, state-of-the-art
mobile communication center to respond to emergency situations, thanks to
a contribution of $85,000 from Merck & Co., Inc.’s West Point site.
The North Penn Chamber of Commerce and the North Penn Community Health Foundation
join Merck as a partner to make this new valuable resource a reality.
The first North Penn police mobile command unit rolled onto area streets
in 1986 and could be seen during special events and at emergency situations.
Since 1990, the command unit has helped police manage communication for incidents
at more than 150 events.
Current Mobile Command Unit
“Our current mobile command unit has served the area very well over
the last 17 years,” said Upper Gwynedd Chief of Police Bob Freed, who
is leading the coordination of the new unit. “Unfortunately, the older
unit is in dire need of repair and is not outfitted with today’s technology.
Because of the increased need for communications among police, fire and emergency
workers, a new unit is needed.”
Communication between area police, fire and ambulance workers is crucial
to managing emergency situations. The mobile command center channels communication
between police and fire departments serving the North Penn area as well as
emergency medical technicians, school district buses, Medivac helicopters,
utility suppliers and public works departments.
“Merck is pleased to be able to support the police in the area and,
ultimately, the community with this donation,” said Connie Wickersham,
Public Affairs manager at Merck’s West Point Site. “We consider
ourselves a good corporate neighbor and believe everyone benefits when police,
fire and emergency services personnel have the best communication tools available.”
About 13,000 Merck employees work in Montgomery County, with the vast majority
working at the company’s West Point, Upper Gwynedd, research and manufacturing
site on Sumneytown Pike. The $85,000 Merck donation will be paid out over
two years.
The new C-100 mobile command center will service the North Penn area of Montgomery
County, including: Franconia, Hatfield, Lower Gwynedd, Lower Salford, Montgomery,
Towamencin and Upper Gwynedd Townships and the Boroughs of Hatfield, Lansdale,
North Wales, Souderton, and Telford.
Considered integral to a growing community’s emergency management equipment,
the new $125,000 mobile command center will be retrofitted with upgraded technology
and made compatible with the Montgomery County Emergency Telecommunications
system. As in 1986, the police chiefs will rely on volunteers to install the
new technology.
“With heightened awareness of terrorist activity since 9-11, our community
has made supporting police, fire and emergency crews our highest priority,”
said R. Michael Owens, President/CEO, North Penn Chamber of Commerce. “The
Chamber recognizes the value that this new mobile command center brings to
the North Penn area.”
Russell Johnson, Executive Director of the North Penn Community Health Foundation,
echoed the same sentiments: “Health and safety of the community go hand-in-hand.
We cannot strive for the healthiest community without starting by making it
as safe as possible.”
Additional financial support is still needed to make the command center a
reality. Tax-deductible donations can be made to the North Penn Community
Health Foundation, C-100 Command Post Fund, P.O. Box 1094, Lansdale, PA 19446.
