Stonington -- The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities presented its 2018 General Entry Municipal Excellence Award to the Town of Stonington last week for its police radio upgrade project.

The award is the highest given to a Connecticut town with a population of less than 20,000.

The $1.3 million project to upgrade the police department’s aging radio project allows local police to communicate directly with state police and various state agencies. In exchange, the state is using the police department’s radio tower and antennae sites to enhance its coverage. The state did not charge the town a fee for joining the system and town officials said the project saved taxpayers millions of dollars.

The upgrade also allows officers to talk directly to those in other departments. It also will give officers the ability to talk directly to fire departments and ambulance companies.

Last year, the town received the same award for its Citizens with Autism Safety System.

In addition to the award, the town received a check from Halloran Sage LLP, a Hartford law firm that sponsors the CCM Municipal Excellence Awards.

“Thanks go to Chief Darren Stewart and Captain Todd Olsen for their leadership in supporting this project,” First Selectman Rob Simmons said, “We are all so proud to get this special award two years in a row.”