About Decatur Electronics
Decatur Electronics has manufactured products for public safety departments for over 50 years. As the United States’ oldest manufacturer of police radar, Decatur has a long history of providing police radar, police in car video systems and speed trailers to men and women who protect our communities as well as servicing those products after the sale.
Company History
Founded in 1955, Decatur Electronics has consistently led the traffic enforcement industry with a focus on technological innovation.
Decatur Electronics, Inc. began with entrepreneur Bryce K. Brown, a farmer who grew up in Hutchinson, Kansas. He attended Southwestern College in Winfield, studying math and physics and worked on the Manhattan Project during WWII, after which he became an educator at the university level, for 33 years.
From 1946 to 1964, Mr. Brown taught at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. Instead of pursuing a doctorate, he immersed himself in business. In 1955, Mr. Brown started Muniquip, making speed timers and soon branched out into radar. By 1963, the radar portion of Muniquip had an annual sales of over a million dollars.
In 1964, Mr. Brown left Millikin University to focus on his new radar company. A Toronto firm was interested in his other offerings and purchased the company two years later. Mr. Brown retained the rights for his radar technology and renamed the company Decatur Electronics Inc. Mr. Brown expanded the business by developing new products, including speed timers to control traffic and a radar guns specifically designed for the Baseball industry.
Decatur Electronics: Product Development
In the years following 1964, Mr. Brown designed and developed revolutionary radar products including the first directional radar. Mr. Brown had success with the RaGun, the MVR, and the Hunter radar guns. Sales increased due to Federal grants that allowed more police departments to purchase radar equipment.
In 1991, Decatur Electronics released the patented Genesis I dash mounted radar. The Genesis I's compact size solved the industry's demand for smaller radar units and generated an industry buzz over the new technology. Riding the moment of the Genesis I Decatur Electronics developed and released the even smaller Genesis II in rapid succession.
In 2000, Decatur expanded its product line to include police in car video systems. A year later, they introduced speed and message trailers, enhancing the company's suite of traffic safety solutions. In late 2004, Decatur released its best-selling handheld radar the GHD directional it's most economical offering in radar traffic enforcement, setting new benchmarks for value, quality and pricing.
In 2009, Decatur Electronics was acquired by Bowmer & Kirkland, the UK’s one of the largest privately-owned construction company. They joined American Emergency Products, Patrol Power and Auto Additions to form Soncell North America, a public safety company dedicated to providing local service with a national presence to agencies throughout the United States.
With the release of two new products in 2010 began another era of innovation for Decatur Electronics. The Scout handheld radar eliminates expensive, difficult to replace batteries in favor of rechargeable AA batteries available at any store, while the Responder 4000 integrates police radar and in car video into a single unit, an innovation unlike any other in the public safety industry.
Decatur Electronics: A Public Safety Company
American Emergency Products, Auto Additions, and Patrol Power along with Decatur Electronics forms Soncell North America. Soncell provides complete vehicle solutions for the public safety industry, providing in-car products through Decatur Electronics and its sister company Patrol Power, while American Emergency Products and Auto Additions install equipment in law enforcement and public safety vehicles, making Decatur an important part of a nationwide, highly diverse family of companies.