Nov. 06--TERRE HAUTE -- Officials hope the donation of customized equipment will help police keep their ears to the ground in search of trouble.
Representatives of Professional Hearing and Audiology Clinics delivered 20 customized earmolds to the Terre Haute Police Department Wednesday afternoon, providing officers a better fit for their hands-free radio equipment.
Donald Kleindl, audioprosthologist and director of the clinics, said his organization has donated 160 earmolds to emergency responders across the state in recent months.
"Our goal is to do 600 offices in about 18 different counties," he said that afternoon in the police department's training room.
Officers lined up to receive their personalized packets, in which the lima bean-shaped earmolds and instruction information was contained.
Police chief John Plasse said the department has other earmold models, but those are generic in style, not fitted to individuals' ears. The 20 earmolds donated will be used for the city's Street Crimes Unit, the Special Response Teams and K-9 officers. Given that each mold was made to fit the individual officer's ear, it is less likely to fall out when running or moving, he said.
Kleindl said the equipment comes with a warranty and offer to repair as needed.
"I appreciate them making this effort to outfit some of our officers, especially free of charge," Plasse said.
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or [email protected].
Copyright 2011 - The Tribune-Star, Terre Haute, Ind.
