Bucks county encryption

[trentbob]

Back when digital radios were starting to be deployed in our area, news organizations complained that they would be no longer able to receive public safety communications. That was initially mitigated by the news agencies being allowed to buy P25 capable radios through the government. Shortly thereafter, the market responded by releasing scanners that could decode P25 voice, and saved these organizations a lot of money.

However, encryption is a different animal in that the market cannot respond, thus we are back to a government agency providing a path for (I assume) vetted organizations to purchase capable radios to monitor certain comms. If the agency wanted to, they could allow a (vetted) person or organization to purchase a capable device - maybe a pager? - that is equipped with the proper keys and locked down so the user cannot read or change its configuration to monitor allowed channels. I'm sure there would be some sort of NDA or other agreement attached to the permission. Another solution would be for the agency to provide a stream / feed of their comms. A public feed could be delayed, or a private feed could allow for a subscription or secure access for vetted persons.

Just to clarify that situation when Trenton, the city I worked in for many many years went to a digital system that could not be picked up by scanners in 2000 at the same time Bucks County went to the type II smartzone digital system we could not pick them up.

Because of the First Amendment the mayor of Trenton Doug Palmer ordered the police department to issue us a Motorola police radio capable of picking up the Trenton system and Bucks County programmed Motorola radios for us that we had to provide.

Note that they only programmed Channel 1dispatch and no Tac channels or secondary channels but we were able to do our jobs. Digital scanners came out in 2003.

 

[maus92]

I'm curious why interested residents of Bucks County don't attend County Commissioner's meetings and produce the encryption agreement letter signed by all the players when the system was introduced. It clearly states intent, and the policy provides for a reasonable balance between employee safety, and the public's right to know about official government operations - while ensuring tactical / investigative confidentiality. Perhaps there has been another public meeting that announced a change in this policy.

 

[phillydjdan]

I saw the county's official SOP on the matter. Each officer has the ability to flip their concentric switch and turn encryption on at any time. The rules is that they are not supposed to unless they have something to say that is sensitive. If they have it turned on inadvertently, the dispatcher is supposed to instruct them to turn it off. The problem I see with this setup is there are already dispatchers who are not saying anything, so certain officers are going their entire shift with it turned on. You'll hear the dispatcher and every other cop except that one officer. I personally would instruct all of us monitoring to contact 911 center and lodge a complaint when we observe this, as they are violating county SOP, and frankly we all know why.. Furthermore, the dispatcher now has the ability to engage encryption at the console level. This is intended for hot calls, such as a bank robbery. They put the call out, turn it on and the cops can say whatever without prying ears. Once the call is deemed "under control" the dispatchers are supposed to turn it back off. Personally, I think this is just a stepping stone. I have money that says they are eventually going to just give in and let the police chiefs association have their way and go 100% encrypted. But I've already been threatened with being banned from here, so I am not allowed to get into the reasons why...

 

[trentbob]

I saw the county's official SOP on the matter. Each officer has the ability to flip their concentric switch and turn encryption on at any time. The rules is that they are not supposed to unless they have something to say that is sensitive. If they have it turned on inadvertently, the dispatcher is supposed to instruct them to turn it off. The problem I see with this setup is there are already dispatchers who are not saying anything, so certain officers are going their entire shift with it turned on. You'll hear the dispatcher and every other cop except that one officer. I personally would instruct all of us monitoring to contact 911 center and lodge a complaint when we observe this, as they are violating county SOP, and frankly we all know why.. Furthermore, the dispatcher now has the ability to engage encryption at the console level. This is intended for hot calls, such as a bank robbery. They put the call out, turn it on and the cops can say whatever without prying ears. Once the call is deemed "under control" the dispatchers are supposed to turn it back off. Personally, I think this is just a stepping stone. I have money that says they are eventually going to just give in and let the police chiefs association have their way and go 100% encrypted. But I've already been threatened with being banned from here, so I am not allowed to get into the reasons why...

I agree with you Dan.

It's been this way for a while now, especially on the Zone 8 there are those who just have the radio encrypted all the time. I have heard dispatchers remind someone's radio is on encryption but not those who decide to leave it on all the time.

After all the testing that's been going on in the last few weeks where the dispatchers were encrypted also and everyone operated encrypted for periods of time, everything seems to be back to where it was on Zone 1, 2, 3 + 8, the zones that I listen to.

Even though they do have the ops channel for every Zone which is their encrypted option to use it is obvious they want to go encrypted on dispatch channels at their own discretion so as not to have user confusion.

I guess you saw post 38 Dan. I know you agree with it from our many conversations in person about it.

 

[phillydjdan]

What blows my mind is that police officers I have talked to in person have told me that they are instructed NOT to try and switch channels because people don't know how to do it. WELL TEACH THEM!!!! Am I the only APX user that knows how to change my zones and channels without looking down? Come on. If you are trained to fire a deadly weapon you should know how to use your damn radio!

 

[trentbob]

That's what I meant about user confusion LOL. By the way Dan, I can change zones on my apx without looking too.

 

[phillydjdan]

I guess you saw post 38 Dan. I know you agree with it from our many conversations in person about it.

I did

 

[phillydjdan]

By the way Dan, I can change zones on my apx without looking too.

So can they... channel announcement is their friend lol. I haven't seen a police channel lineup yet, but I know on the fire side the primary operating channel is on channel positions 1 and 16, so that of you twist the channel knob all the way one way or the other way you'll still end up on the channel you need to be on. If they were to set the police radios up so that A1 and A16 are primary, B1 and B16 are Tac 1 (for when the air is cleared) and C1 and C16 were the OPS channel, they could simply flick the ABC switch all the way one way or the other to switch to a secure channel. The only time they would have to pay attention to that switch is going to zone B. But what do I know lol....

 

[trentbob]

So can they... channel announcement is their friend lol. I haven't seen a police channel lineup yet, but I know on the fire side the primary operating channel is on channel positions 1 and 16, so that of you twist the channel knob all the way one way or the other way you'll still end up on the channel you need to be on. If they were to set the police radios up so that A1 and A16 are primary, B1 and B16 are Tac 1 (for when the air is cleared) and C1 and C16 were the OPS channel, they could simply flick the ABC switch all the way one way or the other to switch to a secure channel. The only time they would have to pay attention to that switch is going to zone B. But what do I know lol....

Sounds like a good way to do it to me. The ABC switch is the key. My channel knob I go all the way to the left and then count turning to the right. My guess is no matter what method you use there may always be cases of user confusion. For some it was quite a while before they could switch to Tac 1.

I think the problem with the encrypted Ops channels is that everybody has to get the memo and all need to switch over so you don't have the case of some or on one channel and others are on the other.

I remember in one bailiwick I won't mention the VP came to town and everyone was operating on Ops 1. One person didn't get the memo and was operating on dispatch in the clear and he kept revealing the route so then the Secret Service had to change the route, he got the word quick enough to switch to Ops before the SS ran out of routes LOL.

 

[maus92]

In this area, our police agencies don't have to switch zones to go to an TAC channel - it's either a knob position or the ABC switch. Foreign jurisdictions / systems are located on another zone. I'm not sure why it's so difficult for Bucks County to set up their radios in a user-friendly config. The convention of knob position 1 and 16 being the same channel is a common config; the idea is a user can easily switch to a monitored channel in an emergency. That's why it is usually assigned to a main operations or dispatch function.

 

[trentbob]

In this area, our police agencies don't have to switch zones to go to an TAC channel - it's either a knob position or the ABC switch. Foreign jurisdictions / systems are located on another zone. I'm not sure why it's so difficult for Bucks County to set up their radios in a user-friendly config. The convention of knob position 1 and 16 being the same channel is a common config; the idea is a user can easily switch to a monitored channel in an emergency. That's why it is usually assigned to a main operations or dispatch function.

Yep, it is simple enough to set things up to be user-friendly.

My radio has Bucks, Burco, Mercer, Montco, Philly, NJSP and miscellaneous. You have to have a system and be consistent with it and it doesn't take long to get proficient at it.

 

[phillydjdan]

They've actually made a few mistakes in programming, in my opinion. The "ZONE UP" button is the middle side button, which can very easily be bumped when reaching for the radio. I actually fixed that in one fire company's radios. I moved that function to the top side button, which is partially protected by the top bezel of the radio, which protrudes out slightly. They also did not assign fire apparatus portables a seat position for their identifiers. They are known as Portable 1, Portable 2, etc, instead of Hydrant, Tip, Irons, etc. I also fixed that in that one fire company's portables and the County now has an accurate list of aliases. What would have happened if they split their crew and 2 guys went interior while 2 guys started throwing ground ladders? If they hit their emergency button command would have to play guessing games trying to figure out who it was and where they were! Then they didn't setup any kind of emergency revert for the fire police. As we all know, they use channels that are not monitored by dispatchers, so what happens when they hit their emergency button? Nothing. It could have very easily been setup so that if they hit that button the radio automatically goes right to the Emergency Band or something, that way at least a dispatcher gets it. Oh, and a side note: the dispatchers are 100% capable of monitoring and transmitting on both fire police channels. They just choose not to. Which is NOT what they tell the Bensalem Public Safety Director when he asks for them to relay orders for traffic control.

 

[trentbob]

They've actually made a few mistakes in programming, in my opinion. The "ZONE UP" button is the middle side button, which can very easily be bumped when reaching for the radio. I actually fixed that in one fire company's radios. I moved that function to the top side button, which is partially protected by the top bezel of the radio, which protrudes out slightly. They also did not assign fire apparatus portables a seat position for their identifiers. They are known as Portable 1, Portable 2, etc, instead of Hydrant, Tip, Irons, etc. I also fixed that in that one fire company's portables and the County now has an accurate list of aliases. What would have happened if they split their crew and 2 guys went interior while 2 guys started throwing ground ladders? If they hit their emergency button command would have to play guessing games trying to figure out who it was and where they were! Then they didn't setup any kind of emergency revert for the fire police. As we all know, they use channels that are not monitored by dispatchers, so what happens when they hit their emergency button? Nothing. It could have very easily been setup so that if they hit that button the radio automatically goes right to the Emergency Band or something, that way at least a dispatcher gets it. Oh, and a side note: the dispatchers are 100% capable of monitoring and transmitting on both fire police channels. They just choose not to. Which is NOT what they tell the Bensalem Public Safety Director when he asks for them to relay orders for traffic control.

Nobody knows this system better than you Dan. I always wondered about the fire police and thought of course they can communicate with them but that's so much more work because of their involvement in every incident no matter what it is because the police always cut themselves free from the burdens of traffic control, It's like the fire police are always out on some Island somewhere but they are on every scene.

Let's hope things stay the way they are and we don't lose more comms due to encryption.

 

[trentbob]

So we have an issue again. All the zones I listen to, 2, 3 + 8 are in the clear as they have been but this morning Zone 1 Bristol is encrypted. Just the dispatcher only, the cars are in the clear.

We did have an incident in Bristol Borough today where a car drove into the river got pinned under the pier with someone trapped. Maybe it started with that, of course it was on the fire radio as a marine rescue with possible entrapment, it was on Trenton nxdn in the clear as their fire department divers assisted. It was on the Jersey State Police Marine c - 10 and the Coast Guard was called for a oil leak. Also Burco put it out in the clear.

Now Zone 1 remains encrypted and we cannot hear the dispatcher but everyone else is in the clear in the county.

Is it possible that someone just forgot to throw the switch back again? We can hear the cars. We heard the coroner requested and we heard one confirmed on the fire radio so it's not as if it was a secret or something.

Anybody have any connections with the county so we can find out why just a Zone 1 dispatcher is encrypted and maybe get them to return to normal?

 

[phillydjdan]

Bob,

The County policy is that E is only to be used during calls of a sensitive nature (bank robbery, active shooter, etc). At the conclusion of such a call, or when it is deemed "safe", all radios should be switched off of E. While that call this morning does fit the criteria, the E should have been turned off by now. I actually contacted the 911 Director previously about violations of this policy and she was very forthcoming with resolving the issue. It was addressed within minutes of me messaging her. I can reach out again, as I know a way to contact her directly.

Some further info on E in relation to the current Covid 19 epidemic. The police asked that all PD channels be E full-time due to possible medical information being transmitted in the open (they started marking Covid 19 positive locations in the CAD). The Commissioners weighed their options and ultimately decided that this would not be approved due to the fact that other agencies (fire and EMS) would then lose potentially critical information that they would normally hear on the PD channels. It makes total sense. I know if I were responding to a dwelling fire I would want to know that the dwelling was set on fire by an armed mental subject. Wouldn't you?

 

[maus92]

Bob,

The County policy is that E is only to be used during calls of a sensitive nature (bank robbery, active shooter, etc). At the conclusion of such a call, or when it is deemed "safe", all radios should be switched off of E. While that call this morning does fit the criteria, the E should have been turned off by now. I actually contacted the 911 Director previously about violations of this policy and she was very forthcoming with resolving the issue. It was addressed within minutes of me messaging her. I can reach out again, as I know a way to contact her directly.

Some further info on E in relation to the current Covid 19 epidemic. The police asked that all PD channels be E full-time due to possible medical information being transmitted in the open (they started marking Covid 19 positive locations in the CAD). The Commissioners weighed their options and ultimately decided that this would not be approved due to the fact that other agencies (fire and EMS) would then lose potentially critical information that they would normally hear on the PD channels. It makes total sense. I know if I were responding to a dwelling fire I would want to know that the dwelling was set on fire by an armed mental subject. Wouldn't you?

Good on the County Commissioners. HIPAA regulations don't require encryption, and in fact, several HIPAA rules have been modified to allow more information to be available to protect First Responders. Encryption is contrary to the purpose of the modified rules.

 

[trentbob]

Bob,

The County policy is that E is only to be used during calls of a sensitive nature (bank robbery, active shooter, etc). At the conclusion of such a call, or when it is deemed "safe", all radios should be switched off of E. While that call this morning does fit the criteria, the E should have been turned off by now. I actually contacted the 911 Director previously about violations of this policy and she was very forthcoming with resolving the issue. It was addressed within minutes of me messaging her. I can reach out again, as I know a way to contact her directly.

Some further info on E in relation to the current Covid 19 epidemic. The police asked that all PD channels be E full-time due to possible medical information being transmitted in the open (they started marking Covid 19 positive locations in the CAD). The Commissioners weighed their options and ultimately decided that this would not be approved due to the fact that other agencies (fire and EMS) would then lose potentially critical information that they would normally hear on the PD channels. It makes total sense. I know if I were responding to a dwelling fire I would want to know that the dwelling was set on fire by an armed mental subject. Wouldn't you?

Thanks Dan oh, I know you'll do what you can for us. I see your text messages coming in and I will read them now and talk to you over there.

 

[trentbob]

Dan, you are the man, I am glad that very professional nice young lady was on duty today and yes they are having one heck of a day.

The switch has been flipped everybody.

 

[phillydjdan]

Didn't take long. She takes policy seriously, as they should

 

[phillydjdan]

Good on the County Commissioners. HIPAA regulations don't require encryption, and in fact, several HIPAA rules have been modified to allow more information to be available to protect First Responders. Encryption is contrary to the purpose of the modified rules.

The reality is that the members of the police chiefs association has always wanted full-time E. They just tried using that excuse to get thier way and it didn't work. Politics at it's best!