My stance has always been this: The police can encrypt all the talk groups they want within their departments.... but leave the main dispatch talkgroups OPEN so the public can monitor live crime in their area. If some major event happens, or there is a sensitive topic, simply switch your radio to a different, encrypted talk group or use your cell phone to call dispatch like they've been doing since cell phones were invented 40 years ago.
In the age of body cameras on every officer.... taking AWAY the public's ability to monitor crime seems like a major step backwards.
Have you ever watched those videos on YouTube of people being questioned by the police, and the person doesn't feel they need to answer the questions? The cops automatically assume the person is "trying to hide something". Well, in the case of police insisting on radio encryption, the public could/should automatically assume the police are trying to hide something. Don't get me wrong, I am pro police but you can't have it both ways!
Also, I've said it before and I will say it again.... just because the new Motorola replacement radios have the ABILITY to be encrypted does NOT mean that feature has to be enabled! Buying new radios does not automatically mean encryption must happen.
Edit: I just clicked the link in post number one of this thread. Did I read that right? They asked for 2 million bucks for radio replacement? Pretty ballsy for a department that was on the chopping block a few months ago. Here's a better idea.... Maybe use that 2 million to add more officers to actually fight the record crime levels and violent car jackings in that city. That would be a MUCh better use of funds than replacing radios that still work fine. Unbelievable.
