CVPD now encrypted

[es93546]

Reading the CA DOJ CLETS Information Bulletin and FBI CJIS Security Policy section 4.3, it looks like PII integrity can be maintained by encrypting a separate records/inquiry channel where names/DLs are already run vs. encrypting everything. SDPD already encrypted their Inquiry 1 and Inquiry 2 talkgroups, and Sheriff could very easily do the same.

It's unfortunate that the bulk of the RCS small LE agencies are defaulting to the convenience of blanket encryption vs. taking this very easy step to encrypt Inquiry only.

I don't know how the Mono County sheriff's department will accomplish this. They would have to add another channel to their 8 repeater system. The Inyo Co. SO already has a second repeater net in all their repeaters, but it was intended that this secondary net be used for large incidents and not as info. I don't know if either department has radios capable of encryption. Also doesn't encryption require digital operation? I don't think either county has that. Meanwhile the U.S. Forest Service, NPS (Death Valley NP and Devils Postpile NM) CA Fish and Wildlife and CA State Parks will have a hard time, although all federal radios have to have digital capabilities. Complicating all of this is the large areas without cell phone coverage in both counties, which will make CHP operations difficult as well as all the other agencies. I guess agencies may develop a procedure not to make traffic stops in cell phone blind areas.

I see encryption coming to rural areas as a result and at a high cost to rural counties that are in tough shape due to Covid, especially those like the eastern Sierra that depend on taxes collected from recreation visitors.

 

[Anderegg]

Chula Vista has an interesting interpretation of the DOJ memo...whoever wrote this should apply for a job at CNN.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1349870407839432708

 

[Anderegg]

"agencies encrypt all radio communications that contain PII". The memorandum states PII derived from CLETS...not generic PII that exists in nature...unless I am reading it wrong?

 

[es93546]

This is another unfunded state mandate that rural California counties will have a very tough time complying with. I don't think this is the end of the issue for rural areas. We had to have some adjustments to solid waste/recycling percentages due to the extended distances to facilities that use the materials. New requirements were developed for certain counties as a result, that were not included in the original versions. The same is likely for this new radio system requirement. This unless the mandate is going to include special funding for rural counties. Often times, policies are drawn up by people who live in cities and have no idea what rural areas are like. Since 95% of the population of the state live in urban areas this tends to be a frequent problem.