Austin Police - Encryption

[TexScan780D]

Let's please keep this radio related. I said please.

10-4

 

[dc2wheel]

Sounds like they're testing the switchover to encryption for APD's 10 main dispatch channels. Yesterday afternoon for several hours I heard nothing on any any of them, while the ten encrypted simulcast channels continued with data and encrypted voice. After a few hours transmissions resumed on the unencrypted channels. My guess is this was testing and we can expect full-time encryption in the next few weeks.

 

[ohgaryoh]

FYI I've been hearing Austin DPS on the Wilco site. It's basically the only law enforcement that I can listen to up this way.

 

[KG1ADP]

Sounds like they're testing the switchover to encryption for APD's 10 main dispatch channels. Yesterday afternoon for several hours I heard nothing on any any of them, while the ten encrypted simulcast channels continued with data and encrypted voice. After a few hours transmissions resumed on the unencrypted channels. My guess is this was testing and we can expect full-time encryption in the next few weeks.

If nobody is affliated on the old non enc talkgroups you will not hear anybody.

 

[cferguson4809]

If nobody is affliated on the old non enc talkgroups you will not hear anybody.

THIS!!!!

They are rolling out programming to the radios little by little and the traffic heard will be less and less until it becomes silent as more radios have the correct key. Finally, the old talkgroups will become deprecated.

 

[garys]

I was under the impression that it was already done or I would have made an effort to turn on the scanner when we were down in the area earlier this week.

I was going to ask why they need new TGs for that, but thinking about it, my guess is that it would be a mess if they tried to mix encrypted and clear traffic on the same TG.

 

[Russell]

They should keep both and just switch to the ENC TG when needed?

 

[garys]

No need for that. There are plenty of Talk Groups that could be set to encryption and used for sensitive information. Plus mobile computers and officers "work" cell phones.

I know a lot of police officers up here and they all have two phones. One for work and one for personal calls. Smart phones can even connect to CAD systems.

We were in the area and I signed up for some of the Williamson FB groups. People where posting questions and updates about incidents going on. Since all LE radio traffic is encrypted there no one knew about anything going on unless the police put a notice on FB.

They should keep both and just switch to the ENC TG when needed?

 

[Whospoonbill]

So I heard Travis County sheriff. Fire and ems is getting encrypted to by certain people. But I also heard that the new Chief of Police for Austin doesn’t want encryption. And I don’t think they will encrypt Travis County there is zero talkgroup that is encrypted for Travis County I’m thinking of sending a email and asking the chief of Sheriff if she knows about this. From what I’ve been told she always been up for the public to get informed so. Also I think it’s talk but its scary cause they move all deputy from Adam west traffic onto baker and they said there going to remain here so I wondering if there getting ready to encrypt it

 

[garys]

It won't matter what the new chief wants if the Mayor and other elected officials want encryption. That said, i hope you're right.

 

[rattlerbb01]

It won't matter what the new chief wants if the Mayor and other elected officials want encryption. That said, i hope you're right.

I get that they can override, but I would think if the leader of your police department that you trust to run the organization and did a national search for says that he doesn’t think it’s necessary, then that should be respected. I respect decisions by chiefs that do the opposite even though I disagree with encryption on dispatch as a matter of principle. They should have data, statistics and cases to prove their decisions which I don’t.

 

[Whospoonbill]

This is email from Manor Police Department chief I know some officer want encryption here but like I said it’s 50/50 with the sheriff the ones I know for a while said we don't care. If you guys listen than there’s the ones that said damn right we want encryption where tired of journalists coming to our scene

 

[Whospoonbill]

The funny thing is when I called Travis County to make a report about something I asked the dispatcher about it before I hung up and she said “nope I don’t know anything about it I gotta go” than hung up

 

[garys]

I'm guessing you don't know or have dealt with many politicians. In many cities they are like little gods, or at least they think they are.

I get that they can override, but I would think if the leader of your police department that you trust to run the organization and did a national search for says that he doesn’t think it’s necessary, then that should be respected. I respect decisions by chiefs that do the opposite even though I disagree with encryption on dispatch as a matter of principle. They should have data, statistics and cases to prove their decisions which I don’t.

 

[garys]

I don't know how they are set up, but she might just be a complaint receiving operator (CRO) and not even know where the dispatch consoles and dispatchers are located. Even the dispatchers may not know.

The funny thing is when I called Travis County to make a report about something I asked the dispatcher about it before I hung up and she said “nope I don’t know anything about it I gotta go” than hung up

 

[Whospoonbill]

I don't know how they are set up, but she might just be a complaint receiving operator (CRO) and not even know where the dispatch consoles and dispatchers are located. Even the dispatchers may not know.

Yeah I can see you did not read my message fully or at all The funny thing is when I called Travis County to make a report about something I asked the dispatcher about it before I hung up and she said “nope I don’t know anything about it I gotta go” than hung up

 

[Whospoonbill]

Again tho I highly doubt Travis County will be encrypted there talk group on Austin that is encrypted never have I seen talk groups on Travis county be encrypted. And there was talk from Sheriff office since. I moved to Texas in 2012 that the city will encrypt the radio the end of this year 2012 than that turned into next year that it turned into a year later they kept pushing it forward so I highly doubt they will do that and a lot of sheriff officer in other agencies even outside of Texas are unencrypted it’s usually the Police department that want encryption not the sheriff office

 

[Whospoonbill]

What I wanna know is why they say this when stringers or media come on scene https://calls.broadcastify.com/616c/1742/1695531222-2403.mp3

 

[rattlerbb01]

What I wanna know is why they say this when stringers or media come on scene https://calls.broadcastify.com/616c/1742/1695531222-2403.mp3

Probably just to remind everyone to be on their best behavior, and that there will be additional people on scene. If media sets up in a danger zone the incident commander will need to know to get them out. Also it’s an alert to let the PIO or ranking officer know they may be needed for comment.

 

[Whospoonbill]

Probably just to remind everyone to be on their best behavior, and that there will be additional people on scene. If media sets up in a danger zone the incident commander will need to know to get them out. Also it’s an alert to let the PIO or ranking officer know they may be needed for comment.

Yeah and I heard them say before can you just note that’s there’s a freelance photographer on scene. But with the encryption in Travis County I heard them change up there tactics infact some calls that are urgent aren’t even going on the radio so I highly doubt there gonna encrypt Travis County anytime soon. And also in certain cases I think when there investigating something I asked officers to tell me what they mean by this but they say we can’t tell you. The dispatcher will say on the radio to the officer or deputy is that a zebra and the officer will say either negative or most likely 10-4