The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office announced this week it was the recipient of a Homeland Security grant valued at $32,000.

According to officials, the grant will offset costs for equipment needed in the department, including new radios for police, fire and EMS that has been mandated by the FCC.

The new FCC guidelines regulate which frequencies can be used by emergency officials to promote bandwidth efficiency and cut down on interference for emergency workers.

“We are extremely pleased to receive this grant,” said Sheriff Barry Faile. “It’s nice to know that we can use this money to purchase the needed equipment and not have to rely on Lancaster County funds to meet the mandate.”

The grant will allow Faile’s department to buy 13 hand-held radios, nine mobile car radios, five radios for the 911 controller room, a pair of desktop repeaters and controllers for the 911 dispatch office.

“Our grants officer worked really hard to acquire this grant and I am thankful for that hard work,” Faile said.