Encryption change in Maryland

blee1099

Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2003
Messages
111
It does not suprise me one bit. Alot of agencies are know considerring encryption saying for security reasons but it also results in the public not being informed. There are crimes everyday in Howard County not listed in their daily crime report that warrant being published yet they won't. I remember when I was running the Howard County feed many moons ago, one of their higher ups found out my contact info and asked me to refrain from publishing their police channels due to security concerns.
 

allen5565

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2003
Messages
69
Location
Montgomery County, MD
I am utterly gutted, shell-shocked. I've been listening to MoCo PD since 1981, when a friend lent me his four-channel, crystal-controlled pocket scanner: 154.160 fire main, 153.950 fireground, 494.8625 2D, 495.3625 *UNENCRPYPTED* SAT channel. Over the years I called in numerous tips based on information heard on the scanner --"The guy you're looking for just popped up at [X]". Back then I was in school and going out nightly, prowling the streets 'til near dawn, listening for fires, car wrecks, (DC shootings) to take pix of and sell to the papers, when they still bought that sort of stuff. The SAT team realized I was such a constant fixture at scenes they installed a CB in one of their unmarked cars, so I could contact them quickly if I saw anything. (Yes, I had a CB; I did the photo thing with another guy and that's how we communicated in the pre-cell phone age.) Nothing at all against folks who listen to the fire/rescue side of things, but PD was where it was at for real excitement, as far as I was concerned. Fire/rescue pix gave me gas money, but the adventure was listening to police. Having this go silent after 44 years is like the death of a parent or a life-long friend. I am absolutely heart-broken.

According to the press release from MCPD, the list of LEO agencies on the encryption path is extensive:

Maryland and Regional Law Enforcement Agencies Who Are Encrypted Or Will Be In The Near Future
· Anne Arundel County Police Department
· Anne Arundel County Sheriff’s Office
· Annapolis Police
· Allegany County
· Washington County
· Baltimore City
· Saint Mary’s County
· Cecil County
· Kent County
· Queen Anne’s County
· Caroline County
· Talbot County
· Dorchester County
· Somerset County
· Worcester County
· Ocean City Police
· Cambridge Police
· Easton Police
· Elkton Police
· Hancock Police
· Princess Anne Police
· Smithsburg Police
· University of Maryland Eastern Shore
· Maryland Natural Resources Police
· Comptroller of Maryland
· Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia
· United States Capitol Police
· United States Park Police
· All Federal Law Enforcement Partners
· Delaware State Police”
 

radioactiveeisendope

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Feb 14, 2012
Messages
9
Location
Silver Spring, MD.
It does not suprise me one bit. Alot of agencies are know considerring encryption saying for security reasons but it also results in the public not being informed. There are crimes everyday in Howard County not listed in their daily crime report that warrant being published yet they won't. I remember when I was running the Howard County feed many moons ago, one of their higher ups found out my contact info and asked me to refrain from publishing their police channels due to security concerns.
I got started listening in 1962 and I heard police on the 150 VHF frequencies. I was paid to listen, and for a kid 15 years old I made a lot of money calling news tips in to various news agencies. I even remember they're very first news tip I called in to a radio station wwdc. Now I do absolutely nothing.
 

Async

The Infamous /\/\
Joined
Aug 25, 2020
Messages
46
Location
Ellicott City, Maryland
I am utterly gutted, shell-shocked. I've been listening to MoCo PD since 1981, when a friend lent me his four-channel, crystal-controlled pocket scanner: 154.160 fire main, 153.950 fireground, 494.8625 2D, 495.3625 *UNENCRPYPTED* SAT channel. Over the years I called in numerous tips based on information heard on the scanner --"The guy you're looking for just popped up at [X]". Back then I was in school and going out nightly, prowling the streets 'til near dawn, listening for fires, car wrecks, (DC shootings) to take pix of and sell to the papers, when they still bought that sort of stuff. The SAT team realized I was such a constant fixture at scenes they installed a CB in one of their unmarked cars, so I could contact them quickly if I saw anything. (Yes, I had a CB; I did the photo thing with another guy and that's how we communicated in the pre-cell phone age.) Nothing at all against folks who listen to the fire/rescue side of things, but PD was where it was at for real excitement, as far as I was concerned. Fire/rescue pix gave me gas money, but the adventure was listening to police. Having this go silent after 44 years is like the death of a parent or a life-long friend. I am absolutely heart-broken.

According to the press release from MCPD, the list of LEO agencies on the encryption path is extensive:

Maryland and Regional Law Enforcement Agencies Who Are Encrypted Or Will Be In The Near Future
· Anne Arundel County Police Department
· Anne Arundel County Sheriff’s Office
· Annapolis Police
· Allegany County
· Washington County
· Baltimore City
· Saint Mary’s County
· Cecil County
· Kent County
· Queen Anne’s County
· Caroline County
· Talbot County
· Dorchester County
· Somerset County
· Worcester County
· Ocean City Police
· Cambridge Police
· Easton Police
· Elkton Police
· Hancock Police
· Princess Anne Police
· Smithsburg Police
· University of Maryland Eastern Shore
· Maryland Natural Resources Police
· Comptroller of Maryland
· Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia
· United States Capitol Police
· United States Park Police
· All Federal Law Enforcement Partners
· Delaware State Police”
And that's why Howard County Police Department is transparent.
 

garys

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Jun 13, 2002
Messages
6,305
Location
Texas
Since I have no current plans to travel to MD, I'm saying this only for consideration. I'm always leery when someone announces a major change due on April 1.

My least favorite day of the year because I don't get why adults think it's funny to post fake things on April Fools Day.

This guy thought this was funny.

 

BoxAlarm187

Level 6 RR Member (Since 1998)
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Mar 19, 2003
Messages
1,733
Location
Old Dominion
Since I have no current plans to travel to MD, I'm saying this only for consideration. I'm always leery when someone announces a major change due on April 1.

My least favorite day of the year because I don't get why adults think it's funny to post fake things on April Fools Day.

This guy thought this was funny.


 
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