Indianapolis, IN - Officers Ordered To Stop Profane Talk On Illegal Radios

[aaron315]

This is not the first time that there has been a ruckus over the use of these ‘TAC’ radios by officers. The whole thing got started years ago when the 800Mhz TRS went in. They left the old radios (VHF for county, UHF for City) in place for a period of time. Especially in the county areas, officers came to rely on the car to car channels to communicate with their coworkers when the TRS was fail-soft, busy, or they were in an area with poor coverage.

Then they started pulling out the old radios, or not installing them when vehicle swaps were done. The biggest problem with that was that officers did not trust the new TRS, with good reason. It was flaky as crap in its beginning, and on hip coverage of the county was about 70 percent. It also cut the county officers off from surrounding counties which were still on VHF. And so the era of the TAC radio began.
Most of them are using Kenwood radios with the MARS/CAP mod done. I do not recall the exact model of the radios.

At one time there was actually a e-mail list that was nearly dedicated to tracking TAC channels in use.

BUT, before any of this started County was on VHF, IPD was on UHF and nearly every police car had a CB in it. Does anyone care to guess what complaints and comments were made about that? Nearly the same as many of the ones made here. Obviously there were not the license concerns, but the rest of the concerns / comments were very similar.

Clearly there are needs which is not entirely met even by the current TRS. I think this issue is partially the result of ignorance, and partially the result of the administration ignoring the needs.

As in any group, there are a few boneheads which draw attention to the lot.

[jaymatt1978]

Originally Posted by PolarBear25

Agreed. Outlaw ALL HAM RADIOS.

I hate to tell y-ou but AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS ARE 1000 TIMES MORE PROFESSIONAL THAN COPS. Some cops are so stupid they think nobody is listening EVERY HAM knows people are listening. It's just the stupid FCC cracks down on hams harder than cops

[JoeyC]

Originally Posted by jaymatt1978

I hate to tell y-ou but AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS ARE 1000 TIMES MORE PROFESSIONAL THAN COPS. Some cops are so stupid they think nobody is listening EVERY HAM knows people are listening. It's just the stupid FCC cracks down on hams harder than cops

Nice rebirth of the dead thread...

FWIW, a cops primary function is not as a broadcaster (to talk on the radio) contrary to what some scanner listeners may think. On the other hand, broadcasting (talking on the radio) as an amateur radio operator IS the primary function of the HAM (as well as radio theory in general). I would expect a higher level of radio professionalism from a HAM. A ham radio operator should expect other HAMS are listening, as well as other cops should expect OTHER COPS be listening as well. Any other listeners are eavesdropping and have no business criticizing unless they are a party to the conversation.

[kb2vxa]

"AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS ARE 1000 TIMES MORE PROFESSIONAL THAN COPS."
How can >Amateurs< be professional when FCC Part 97 specifically prohibits them from taking pecuniary interest? Oh and BTW the rules prohibit broadcasting too. (;->)
Oh I know what you meant to say, they're far more radio savvy but thanks for the luls.

[W9GC]

Originally Posted by kb2vxa

How can >Amateurs< be professional when FCC Part 97 specifically prohibits them from taking pecuniary interest? Oh and BTW the rules prohibit broadcasting too. (;->)
Oh I know what you meant to say, they're far more radio savvy but thanks for the luls.

How does pecuniary interest have anything to do with somebody's ability to act professional? Some people (not all ) can act in a professional manner without being paid to do so.

[kb2vxa]

Absolutely nothing the way you stated it, however that's not quite what Jaymatt said so as Senator Claghorn (Allen's Alley, an old radio show) said it best; "Ah say, ah say it's a JOKE, son."

[W9GC]

__________________

[mikepdx]

Originally Posted by N_Jay

...when LAW enforcement officers and departments WILLINGLY ignore the LAW, we have an issue.

We not only have an issue, we have CRIME, CRIMINALS and CONSPIRACY.

[k6bsr]

I remember reading about the same thing happening back in the late 1980's with guys in the same geographical area using "linears" and "funny channels" on their CB/10 meter radios. This is not new to them and the acknowledge that in the article. Perhaps voters need to bring it up with county commisioners who are also accountable and less "immune" to the public opinion...

[richardc63]

Originally Posted by gc505

How does pecuniary interest have anything to do with somebody's ability to act professional? Some people (not all ) can act in a professional manner without being paid to do so.

Easy. There is nothing quite as mind focussing as knowing that your ability to pay your bills depends on how you perform your job. Hams can do what they like without that major incentive to influence their actions. Note that I'm not saying they AREN'T "professional" if they choose to be, but they just don't have the same behavior limiting factors as those in professions (note my choice of words) do.


Richard

[Net-5]

Originally Posted by jaymatt1978

I hate to tell y-ou but AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS ARE 1000 TIMES MORE PROFESSIONAL THAN COPS. Some cops are so stupid they think nobody is listening EVERY HAM knows people are listening. It's just the stupid FCC cracks down on hams harder than cops

What, you get too many speeding tickets, been hauled to jail one too many times, or have an axe to grind against cops out there? I would not call cops "stupid" because they are not. Maybe a better choice of words would have been complacent, and that applies to cops just as much as it does to ham radio operators at times. As both are human, uh, right... ?

And those ham operators, more likely than not, are not dealing with the same stressors as cops on the street are when using their radios. I'd would have loved to have you as a ride-a-long in some of the crap I got hosed with, then see how a big a talker you would be then, my friend.

[W9GC]

Originally Posted by Net-5

What, you get too many speeding tickets, been hauled to jail one too many times, or have an axe to grind against cops out there? I would not call cops "stupid" because they are not.

Calm down, don't get your uniform in a bunch. He didn't say "cops are stupid", he said SOME cops are so stupid...

It doesn't take a genius to realize that some cops are very, very stupid - just like some ham operators are very, very stupid.

[Wyandotte]

Maybe the Indy Cops should of come and seen me.
For about 5 years, some of the local police enjoyed handheld to handheld comms without their dispatchers or command officers hearing them. I was programming a sixth channel in their HT600's for them. I just made up a little splinter freq, in between a couple of cab freqs. Went real well, until the area here went to 800 Mhz. Now they use their Nextels to talk about their command officers, or the pretty little thing dispatching.

[N_Jay]

Originally Posted by Wyandotte

Maybe the Indy Cops should of come and seen me.
For about 5 years, some of the local police enjoyed handheld to handheld comms without their dispatchers or command officers hearing them. I was programming a sixth channel in their HT600's for them. I just made up a little splinter freq, in between a couple of cab freqs. Went real well, until the area here went to 800 Mhz. Now they use their Nextels to talk about their command officers, or the pretty little thing dispatching.

The thoughtless helping the lawless. What a combination.

[KC9NCF]

Hey, I know...maybe we should all take turns getting on their system and drive them mad, like they did to us by ABUSING our frequencies. This is just as bad as these two officers from out east who are serving partial jail terms after being CONVICTED for their crimes, yet they are still allowed to wear a badge and hit the streets as police officers during the week when not serving their jail sentences!

Just goes to show the double standard that cops can do what they want, break as many laws as they want however they want without concern for any type of action against them because they have a badge and are above God himself. (not each cop is like this, but the vast majority in most places are). I have to say that we seem to be getting better officers here in Chicago who treat the public with courtesy and respect. It was just recently when an officer on mounted patrol jumped in the water of Lake Michigan to save a drowning man.

[KE4NYV]

I guess I will toss in my 2 cents...

After working at two Motorola shops for over 5 years, I can tell you that I knew plenty of Amateur licensed officers that had radios installed in their cars and they legally used them. Most of the time, they were friends with us other hams that worked at the Motorola shop. They typically would get on and chew with us on the local machines, usually during some down time ie. running radar, ect.

One department decided to mount high quality CBs in each car for several reasons. Mostly to monitor Ch 9 since they were so close to the interstate. Most of the guys quickly latched on to this "alternate tac channel" and started using it for chatting and making lunch plans. I listened in on occasion and was pleased to hear they were fairly cordial with its use and did not abuse it with profane language or official PD business.

Having said that, IF these guys were buying the 2M radios, modifying them and using them for what is claimed, that was wrong and illegal and I would have to call them out on it. I am not here to be some radio cop, but I do believe in following the laws of the land and the rules set forth by the FCC. Afterall, every one of us licensed amateurs on this board does that, right?

One thing comes to mind, if the radios were 2M and modified, there is a good chance they were doing all of this in the MARS/CAP region of the band since most 2M radios, when modded are good for that range only outside of the 144-148 MHz spectrum. That does not mean there are not radios out there that can be modded further (I had an Alinco that went roughly 120 - 180 MHz) I am just saying that is the TYPICAL out of band mod coverage expansion.

Regardless, even if these guys decided to go get licensed and do it the right way, they would have to stay in the amateur region and cut out all of the profane language, ect. I think someone else said it best, that is the crux, they only liked it because they thought it was their own personal, un-monitored radio channel.

[DickH]

Originally Posted by kb2vxa

... thanks for the luls.

Huh? What's a luis?