Lots of interesting listening with multiple agencies involved.
Santa Monica was quick overwhelmed and had large response from many adjacent agencies such as Culver City, Beverly Hills, LAPD/LAFD, CHP, Sheriff, plus eventually federal agencies like FBI and ATF.
On the radio communications end I noted some definite difficulties especially on the police side.
With SMPD being encrypted this caused issues with direct comms by outside agencies. Even the SM Access channel was difficult to use especially in the beginning as some SM units were still transmitting encrypted.
What made things really confusing on the PD side was the Access channel was being used for the Obama visit at the time, but the shooting quickly pushed them off the air in favor of the response to the campus.
My personal take was the encryption limited comm options for outside responders to utilize to speak with SM and caused a communications bottle neck both getting the information out, and to efficiently coordinate amongst each other once on the scene. Many agencies remainder on their home frequencies with their own dispatchers seemingly having to relay information back and forth. Hardly ideal for a fast evolving dangerous situation.
Also with this event I noted the campus police and other campus frequencies all seem to have gone to MOTOTRBO.
