Wallowa County Sheriff’s office reflects on 2.75-million-dollar federal grant
By Garrett Christensen on Tuesday, January 27th, 2026 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
WALLOWA COUNTY – It was previously announced that the Wallowa County Sheriff’s Office had been awarded a 2.75-million-dollar federal investment grant by the U.S. Congress. The Wallowa County Sheriff’s Office has since issued its own statement on the incoming funding, providing some additional information. The release from the Sheriff’s Office is as follows:
Press Release from the Wallowa County Sheriff’s Office
The Wallowa County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded a $2.75 million federal grant to upgrade emergency services radio infrastructure throughout Wallowa County. The grant application, submitted nearly two years ago by Sheriff Ryan Moody, will fund critical improvements to the county’s public safety communications system.
This funding will benefit all emergency service agencies in Wallowa County by replacing aging infrastructure that is well beyond its service life. The project includes the installation of updated communications equipment, new radios for first responders, and expanded radio coverage in areas of the county that currently have little to no communication capability — including locations without reliable radio or cellular service.
“This funding comes at a critical time for Wallowa County,” said Sheriff Ryan Moody. “Our current radio system is outdated and leaves significant gaps in coverage. This project will dramatically improve responder safety, communication reliability, and our ability to coordinate with partner agencies when emergencies happen.”
The upgraded system will meet current federal standards and significantly improve interoperability with neighboring jurisdictions, ensuring more effective coordination during mutual aid responses and large-scale emergencies.
The grant was secured through the offices of U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden under the Federal Community Initiated Projects (CIP) program recently approved by Congress.
Congress continues work on additional Fiscal Year 2026 funding bills that include other Community Initiated Projects benefiting Eastern Oregon. Updates will be shared as more information becomes available.
For questions regarding this project, please contact the Wallowa County Sheriff’s Office.
