It's announced at Montgomery County Police that has been an open transmissions for many years is going encrypted on all their districts starting on April 1st.
Encryption change in Maryland
- Thread starter radioactiveeisendope
- Start date
Async
The Infamous /\/\
Nooo!
Once this happens & you've confirmed this be sure to submit an update to get all applicable talkgroups updated from mode "T" to "TE" (assuming full encryption)
Sad
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.
Async
The Infamous /\/\
Wowzers.
allen5565
Member
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”
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”
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 /\/\
And that's why Howard County Police Department is transparent.
For now. Chiefs come and go and the next one may implement
Async
The Infamous /\/\
Yeah, hopefully by then I will be part of the radio shop or generally the department.
Async
The Infamous /\/\
For now...
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.
en.wikipedia.org
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.
Great Blue Hill eruption prank - Wikipedia
BoxAlarm187
Level 6 RR Member (Since 1998)
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.
Great Blue Hill eruption prank - Wikipedia
Montgomery County police move to fully encrypt radio transmissions
Transparency concerns have followed similar shifts to encrypt police communications at other departments around the country.
bethesdamagazine.com
baybum
Member
Maus, to answer your question, I am copying MCPD in the clear at this time.
Chris52
Member
MCPD still in the clear as of this morning
Plans to encrypt MoCo police radio channels ‘leaked,’ official says
County and law enforcement decision makers are still considering ways to balance transparency and privacy as encryption plans move forward.
bethesdamagazine.com
I still fail to understand why encryption is such a big deal anymore. Five or ten years ago I'd understand but today it doesn't make sense.
"Locks just keep honest people honest"
"Locks just keep honest people honest"
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