Community watch radios

[SmileySixguns]

I've been talking to many of my neighbors for some time about various radio communications for our neighborhood. I've managed to build enough enthusiasm to get some of them to buy a variety of GMRS and FRS radios. Some of the folks already had some FRS radios that they primarily used when traveling with family, and I've built enough enthusiasm amongst some of them to get them to be licensed with GMRS. We've conducted range tests and in our specific spot we're about to clearly chat at approximately 1 mile apart. We can easily cover our entire neighborhood's range. During Helene, we all had our radios on in the event we needed to come to each other's immediate aid.

 

[rf_patriot200]

I've been talking to many of my neighbors for some time about various radio communications for our neighborhood. I've managed to build enough enthusiasm to get some of them to buy a variety of GMRS and FRS radios. Some of the folks already had some FRS radios that they primarily used when traveling with family, and I've built enough enthusiasm amongst some of them to get them to be licensed with GMRS. We've conducted range tests and in our specific spot we're about to clearly chat at approximately 1 mile apart. We can easily cover our entire neighborhood's range. During Helene, we all had our radios on in the event we needed to come to each other's immediate aid.

MURS radios would be a good choice for this as well.

 

[WX9RLT]

Least you have a community, that cares.

Police eliminated our neighborhood watch groups, when they encrypted

Kudos to you and your neighborhood!

 

[SmileySixguns]

We discussed what radios most everyone already had, and the GMRS and the FRS versions were what most everyone already had, so we just went with them.

We actually have 1 Sheriff's deputy and 1 town police officer and a TSA agent in our community. We have kind of a campground atmoshpere within the community. We almost all chit chat with one another. The odds of us having actual problems with outsiders is relatively small, but not zero. But the radios do give us the ability to very rapidly respond to just about anything and call in all sorts of backup if we aren't enough

 

[WX9RLT]

We discussed what radios most everyone already had, and the GMRS and the FRS versions were what most everyone already had, so we just went with them.

We actually have 1 Sheriff's deputy and 1 town police officer and a TSA agent in our community. We have kind of a campground atmoshpere within the community. We almost all chit chat with one another. The odds of us having actual problems with outsiders is relatively small, but not zero. But the radios do give us the ability to very rapidly respond to just about anything and call in all sorts of backup if we aren't enough

Sure is nice to hear there are good people still out there in this world.
Definitely, not in my area!

Police literally, got rid of our neighborhood watch groups.
When they encrypted. They refused to get our community involved and provide information or suspect descriptions.
And crime has skyrocketed.

Not long ago, a man was running from police.
Many citizens saw him and called police.
Police said "nothing was going on"
Even though, they were actively looking for him.
So our community, was in the dark.
The man, kicked in the door of an elderly woman, raped her and killed her.
Then stole her car and literally drove right on by the police and got away.
He was later caught in a community that was transparent...

I am a firm believer in transparency and community involvement.
Sadly, since encryption. Police gave our community the middle finger.
And these types of crimes, happen often now.
And our police deny the crimes.
Absolutely no justice for the victims, or our community.
Neighborhood watch groups are vital in community relations and safety!

The family radios would be best.

We used these: GXT1050VP4
Worked perfect, for what you are looking for!

 

[SmileySixguns]

Neighborhood watch groups are vital in community relations and safety!

Absolutely! You just never know what situation may arise. I think part of the problem is you get a combination of egos and budgets. The ego folks don’t want anyone else’s help because they think it diminishes their importance. One of our group even has a pretty nice drone and can put eyes in the sky for us in a matter of minutes. I don’t think anyone coming here and causing very much trouble would fare very well for very long lol

 

[mike619]

I would go with a DMR encryption or P25 Encryption or a surplus XTS3000 with either DMR encryption or P25 Encryption and if in a city where law uses encryption and gives the community the finger Castile Doctrine act and Stand Your Ground law against criminals.

 

[mmckenna]

surplus XTS3000 with either DMR encryption

Good idea. Let us know when you find an XTS-3000 that does DMR.

 

[mike619]

Good idea. Let us know when you find an XTS-3000 that does DMR.

I know those don't do DMR I was saying if you choose P25 encryption for a P25 frequency an XTS radio and a different radio for DMR which does DMR.

 

[MTS2000des]

Go buy a couple of Radtel RT-4D and program them up on your favorite part 90 frequency of choice and use AES-256 to go indulge in your cosplay routine of sidewalk commando and Rescue Randy.

 

[cactus360]

Least you have a community, that cares.

Police eliminated our neighborhood watch groups, when they encrypted

Kudos to you and your neighborhood!

Spent several decades in law enforcement, including some time meeting with neighborhood groups. While it's usually nice to have the police involved, there is no reason you can't have your own stand alone group without police involvement.

Some agencies are really good in working in partnership with the public. Others not so much. In those cases It usually come downs to ego and agencies trying to protecting their turf and insisting in being seen as the "experts" in such matters.

 

[mike619]

Spent several decades in law enforcement, including some time meeting with neighborhood groups. While it's usually nice to have the police involved, there is no reason you can't have your own stand alone group without police involvement.

Some agencies are really good in working in partnership with the public. Others not so much. In those cases It usually come downs to ego and agencies trying to protecting their turf and insisting in being seen as the "experts" in such matters.

An example of a bad egotistical agency is Chula Vista police department in Chula Vista California.

 

[Hans13]

Spent several decades in law enforcement, including some time meeting with neighborhood groups. While it's usually nice to have the police involved, there is no reason you can't have your own stand alone group without police involvement.

Some agencies are really good in working in partnership with the public. Others not so much. In those cases It usually come downs to ego and agencies trying to protecting their turf and insisting in being seen as the "experts" in such matters.

^^^ This ^^^

I did it in my own neighborhood and it brought down violent crime significantly.

 

[mike619]

In California state there is PC 837 which allows for citizens arrest if an individual commits a crime while in your presence they can be detained by people if you happen to be in an area of the state that has a decent department that will work with the people.

PC 837 in California
a private person can arrest another for a public offense or a felony in California if a person commits that said crime in your presence.

 

[BinaryMode]

MURS radios would be a good choice for this as well.

+1

The cheap Chinese versions can be had in bulk. Doubt they're full on 2 watts though.

For "ubber" security go with expensive Motorola DTRs... In this department I have around 10 Nextel i355s that use the same technology as a DTR... Great thing about the Nextels is that they can stay plugged in or used with battery.

 

[nokones]

In California state there is PC 837 which allows for citizens arrest if an individual commits a crime while in your presence they can be detained by people if you happen to be in an area of the state that has a decent department that will work with the people.

PC 837 in California
a private person can arrest another for a public offense or a felony in California if a person commits that said crime in your presence.

And, at one time, there was a statute and made it a crime for any peace officer to refuse taking custody of a person by a citizens arrest.

 

[mmc-dsm]

I know this is GMRS/FRS/MURS but Zello channel with a password on your cellphones.

 

[K6GBW]

Yes, you can make private persons arrests under 837 PC. You also accept any and all liability when doing so. Thing hard about that. When I was on the job I got sued five times in a thirty year career. I had department lawyers and qualified immunity. Better to be a good witness if at all possible.

The law did, at one time, say peace officers had to take arrests presented by a private person. That law was changed and officers are now required to conduct a preliminary investigation to determine if there is in fact probable cause. If there isn’t then no arrest may be made. The truth is that for most minor crimes an arrest at the time isn’t really necessary. If the suspect is known they can always be arrested at a later time. Being good witnesses that are willing to testify is really the best way to help.

 

[cactus360]

Yes, you can make private persons arrests under 837 PC. You also accept any and all liability when doing so. Thing hard about that. When I was on the job I got sued five times in a thirty year career. I had department lawyers and qualified immunity. Better to be a good witness if at all possible.

The law did, at one time, say peace officers had to take arrests presented by a private person. That law was changed and officers are now required to conduct a preliminary investigation to determine if there is in fact probable cause. If there isn’t then no arrest may be made. The truth is that for most minor crimes an arrest at the time isn’t really necessary. If the suspect is known they can always be arrested at a later time. Being good witnesses that are willing to testify is really the best way to help.

Amen,
Most off duty officers avoid too much off duty involvement, unless lives are in immediate danger. It was really stressed that being a good witness almost always worked out better for prosecution. Not saying one should idly stand by and become a victim, sometimes you just got to do what you got to do.

An acquaintance of mine, while off duty, tried to interrupt an armed robbery and promptly got shot in the neck. Fortunately he survived.

 

[jrothwell]

I know this is GMRS/FRS/MURS but Zello channel with a password on your cellphones.

I think they want quick, reliable communications. Zello with a password on a cell phone, relying on the cellular network is not quick (unlock cell phone, find/open app, type password, wait for app to open, select group...) or reliable (cell network down/overloaded or poor coverage area) in a disaster or emergency.