ODRC Donates Over 700 Pre-Owned MARCS Radios to Schools and Local Support Agencies

August 31, 2026 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact JoEllen Smith: [email protected]

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) - The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) recently donated over 700 pre-owned MARCS radios to local emergency response agencies and school districts across the state.

ODRC recently began a comprehensive upgrade of its Multi-Agency Radio Communication System (MARCS) radio fleet, a process that will take several years to complete. During this transition, ODRC determined that the Motorola APX 4000 radios being replaced would still hold value for other agencies that may lack the resources to modernize or expand their MARCS radio equipment.

After ODRC initially shared this idea with local agencies, the response was enthusiastic. To date, ODRC has donated 739 radios to 25 agencies across Ohio, and requests from other organizations continue to come in. ODRC will continue to fulfill these requests as its upgrade progresses over the coming years.

"One of our core values at ODRC is 'One Team, One Purpose,'" said ODRC Interim Director Ed Banks. "We knew that there was a need for this technology in some of our communities, and this is one way we can give back. I want to especially recognize ODRC project manager Kyle Hauswirth for taking on this project and noticing the need in the community."

Below are the agencies that have received MARCS radios to date:

• Miami Trace Local Schools - 100 radios and accessories.
• Madison County Sheriff's Office - 30 radios and accessories.
• London Division of Fire/EMS - 10 radios and accessories.
• Highland County North Joint Fire and Ambulance District - 12 radios and accessories
• Madison County Sheriff/Engineer Office - 90 radios and accessories.
• Twin Township Fire Department - 30 radios and accessories.
• Southwest Pickaway Fire District - 15 radios and accessories.
• Deerfield Township Fire Department - 20 radios and accessories.
• Pick-A-Fay Fire - 25 radios and accessories.
• Scioto Township Fire - 12 radios and accessories.
• Clear Creek Fire Department - 25 radios and accessories.
• Pickaway Township Fire Department -15 radios and accessories.
• Pickaway County EMA - 25 radios and accessories.
• Gallia County Sheriff's Office - 24 radios and accessories.
• Grafton Village Fire Department - 25 radios and accessories
• Concord Township Fire & EMS - 50 radios and accessories
• Jefferson Twp. Fire and Rescue - 10 radios and accessories
• Scioto Valley Local School - 50 radios and accessories
• Springfield Township Fire & Rescue - 16 radios and accessories
• Huntington Township Fire Department - 13 radios and accessories
• Pike County Sheriff's Office - 30 radios and accessories
• Union Township Fire Department - 50 radios and accessories
• Pebble Township Volunteer Fire Department - 40 radios and accessories
• Galion Police Department - 12 radios and accessories
• Bainbridge Fire Department - 10 radios and accessories