Lightning Strike Leaves Law Enforcement Without Radios
CAMDEN, Tenn. – A lightning strike this morning in Benton County paralyzed officers by taking out their radio communication. Some said lightning does not strike the same place twice but Benton County law enforcement said that was something they know is not true. Marlene Bawcum has been dispatching for the county since 1997. “I’ve dealt with this for several times,” she said. “Too many times. I don’t want to deal with it anymore but it will happen again I’m sure.” Around 9:15 a.m.,Thursday lightning struck the radio communication tower used by both Benton County deputies and Camden Police. Bobby Melton was inside the Police Department when the radios went out. “When the lightening hit there was this huge POP!”, he said. With no ability to use radio communication, Camden police were forced to use older, less reliable handhelds as well as cell phones. With the unreliable cell reception in the county, dispatchers were worried. “We are lost without communication with our officers out on the city streets and beyond,” Melton said. Besides being an inconvenience, law enforcement said the lightning strike made responding to routine calls and emergency situations much slower. That is why officers said something should be done to lessen the risk for fear another lightning strike could once again leave them in this situation. “We’ve gone through three to four lightning strikes in the past with the previous tower. I think maybe you can put lightening rods or reinforcements or some sort of thing [that would help], but that would be up to our radio tower consultants,” Melton said. The Benton County Sheriff’s Department said their system is back up and running. Camden Police said they are still having problems but workers are trying to make repairs.
