I have been following this thread and have nothing to add except that I feel that any local law enforcement agency that encrypts has something to hide. That includes the DC police. At least you still have Fire and Rescue plus STARS and if something is really going on, I am sure you will get more on STARS than the locals. I sometimes monitor Warren County which is around the size of Allegany population wise and when you get down to it, what are you really missing? Drunks, baking dogs, and domestics calls? Still I feel for you because I know how frustrating it is not to be able to monitor your local police department (which you pay for). Happy New Year.
I think its frustrating because I have been listening since my teen years, just miss it. Wherever I've lived I've been able to monitor. Plus for several years I had it part and parcel with running ambulance in LA County.
Always had LaCoFd, LASO, plus a few local departments for our response area. Kept informed on what was going on which came in handy in running calls more than once. You get a call over county for a head injury at 123 Main while LASO gets a call for a 415F, 390 at 123 Main then you kinda know to wait for that 97 call from LASO before going in. (fight call with drunk) (arriving) LOL
Then driving OTR trucking I had the thing all over the country listening.
Out here though I think it is very shortsighted and rather stupid of them. Since it's small town like people often call in with info on calls that benefits the SO. Now for the most part they don't have that. Except of course when it crashes which it did again last night btw. They only got it up and running again a couple hours ago.
I've been able to help them more than once over the years, people often call in stuff like who a loose horse or cow belongs to and sometimes information on suspects which have been broadcast. Usual stuff. (and no I didn't chase the call or anything else) They get lots of help called in by citizens who heard something on the scanner. And yes there are those who listen to one to avoid the cops like everywhere but still.
But now not only have they lost that but they've angered a lot of the citizens out here over not being able to listen any longer. Like I said shortsighted and stupid.
But then again these are the people who use 10-21 for barking dog complaints and kids skateboarding in parking lots. Maybe stupid already applied.
You're right in STARS and the local FD. It's so funny over the years when SO is all 10-21 hush hush about something and fire gets dispatched to stage at their station and 10-21 dispatch when they get there and then on the fire tac channels they are all talking between themselves and other responding members about what it's all about. Then about a 1/2 hour too late county tells them to shut the blank up on the radio.
It has left me laughing my rear off more than once.
So yeah not knowing why 5 cop cars are down the road in our complex or who's fighting who amongst the neighbors is missed.
Happy New Year to you too as well everyone else here.
