Hendricks county fire dispatch going encrypted

[speedway_navigator]

The 911 advisory board voted to recommend the commissioners encrypt fire dispatch with a 30 minute delay during today's meeting.
2 fire chiefs said this is the direct result of 'scanner heads' showing up on scene and causing or having the potential to interfere with their fire fighters response.

One example I heard outside the meetings was someone streaming or uploading photos of CPR in progress at a medical emergency at a tire shop in Avon. One of the chiefs follows the scanner groups and said it's concerning to him there seems to be a race among followers to be first on scene.

 

[mmckenna]

Good. This needs to happen more.

 

[AK9R]

911 advisory board

Are the minutes of this board's meetings published anywhere?

Based on what I see on the Hendricks County 911 website, they haven't published "Ops Board" minutes since since 2019 nor published an annual report since 2019.

 

[IndyScan]

"One example I heard outside the meetings was someone streaming or uploading photos of CPR in progress"

Sounds like the Citizen App in Indy...

 

[usswood]

Same thing was happening/still happening in Terre Haute, now that City is ENC who do you think they are following now!

 

[speedway_navigator]

Are the minutes of this board's meetings published anywhere?

Based on what I see on the Hendricks County 911 website, they haven't published "Ops Board" minutes since since 2019 nor published an annual report since 2019.

I asked during the meeting and was told they are posted on Plainfield's site. I do not see them listed, nor do I see them on the county's site even though technically ECCs are under the county. This as been a sticking point with me since I got on.
Annuals are required per one of our certification bodies per Renee, I think it's CALEMA.

We just got an ACE accreditation which relates to call takers giving CPR and other medical info over the phone.

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Their home page won't load on my PCs, I must run too much (for them) security.

 

[INDY72]

I am surprised Hamilton hasn't gone first. They usually beat Hendricks to the punch on this kind of thing. Now they ABSOLUTELY must work with Marion County Fire-Rescue as they do mutual aid, and dispatch each other on calls around the county line, and Airport Mutual Aid. They will have to iether give MCFR keys, or set up a set of interop TG's for interop! God forbid they actually use the State interop stuff.

 

[AK9R]

I asked during the meeting and was told they are posted on Plainfield's site. I do not see them listed, nor do I see them on the county's site even though technically ECCs are under the county. This as been a sticking point with me since I got on.

I am not an attorney, but I think that as an agency of county or town government, they are required by Indiana law to make their meeting agendas and minutes public.

 

[speedway_navigator]

We filed complaints with the public access consular about Pittsboro failing to post agendas as required by
IC 5-14-1.5-5. I think the PAC ruled in our favor at least 3 times, but that won't stop Jarod Baker.

How long before the meeting takes place must the Board post a notice?

A public agency must post notice stating the date, time and place of the meeting at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting. The 48 hours does not include Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays.www...

faqs.in.gov

 

[ind224]

Haha typical Indiana transparency BS. They encrypt so you don't know not because someone showed up. MORE people without scanners or cell feeds show up. No honorable mention or tears?
When I submit a freq here the admin tells me 1) I don't see a license (like that means I did not hear what I heard on a frequency) or 2) the frequency is "invalid". (like that means I did not hear what I heard on the frequency.) So be it, no more submissions. Lots of folks ruining scanning and not all of them "on scene".
The big "deal" in this latest authoritarian cry baby affair was a person streaming CPR efforts ie filming public servants in the course of their duties an alleged First Amendment right, even in Induhana.
They don't stop or cry about Indy news crews watching a multi alarm multi agency wearhouse fire in HENDRICKS CO where the existing taxpayer funded comm system failed them....no scapegoats available hence no charges filed. It was the building itself that interfered with the comms of an obviously inadequate system. I'm sure the encryption will help fight belligerant buildings in the future. HAW!!!!

 

[speedway_navigator]

Having been inside govt and knowing many others in public safety I've seen first hand how some of those govt folks circle the wagons around their own to protect them and their pensions.

I wonder how many other fire depts encrypt dispatch. When the tornado hit Lake Village in March farmers and neighbors heard damage reports on scanners and showed up with equipment and chain saws to help out their neighbors.

If you are not in support of this show up at the commissioners meeting Tuesday at 9am and speak under public comment. The dog and cat lovers did, it worked, same for the anti wind mill folks.

 

[bensand1]

The 911 advisory board voted to recommend the commissioners encrypt fire dispatch with a 30 minute delay during today's meeting.
2 fire chiefs said this is the direct result of 'scanner heads' showing up on scene and causing or having the potential to interfere with their fire fighters response.

One example I heard outside the meetings was someone streaming or uploading photos of CPR in progress at a medical emergency at a tire shop in Avon. One of the chiefs follows the scanner groups and said it's concerning to him there seems to be a race among followers to be first on scene.

The sad part is a lot of this sounds like speculation, not actual documented interference. They keep talking about what could happen, not what has happened.

Also, the photo being referenced of “CPR in progress” wasn’t even taken during active patient care. It was taken around two hours after fire crews had already cleared the scene, so that claim is misleading too.

At the end of the day, this feels less about “scene safety” and more about keeping the public from knowing what’s going on in Hendricks County in real time. Dispatch traffic has always been one of the few ways the public can stay informed, and now they’re using exaggerated stories to justify taking that access away.

 

[speedway_navigator]

A Brownsburg fire chief mentioned drivers running over hoses, if the public was informed about the location they could avoid it.
Our town council was presented with an ordinance proposal that stated

A person who drives a vehicle that is not on official business may not do any of the following:

(1) Follow any fire apparatus traveling in response to a fire alarm at a distance closer than five hundred (500) feet;
(2) Drive into or park a vehicle within the block where fire apparatus has stopped in answer to a fire alarm commits a Class C infraction.

How does a person know the apparatus is on an alarm call if we have a 30 minute delay?
What if I'm delivering food or a paying passenger to a home on the block, is that official business?

I have seen 2 neighbors drive past medic 111 on the way out or into a dead end street but our fire fighters were on a medical call, not an alarm.

 

[speedway_navigator]

No discussion at today's commissioners meeting.

 

[AK9R]

No discussion at today's commissioners meeting.

I could be snarky and say "of course there was no discussion because nobody brought it up". That's especially concerning since the county's 9-1-1 Director was at the meeting.

 

[GTO_04]

I am surprised Hamilton hasn't gone first. They usually beat Hendricks to the punch on this kind of thing. Now they ABSOLUTELY must work with Marion County Fire-Rescue as they do mutual aid, and dispatch each other on calls around the county line, and Airport Mutual Aid. They will have to iether give MCFR keys, or set up a set of interop TG's for interop! God forbid they actually use the State interop stuff.

I have read somewhere here on the forums that Hamilton County will indeed be encrypting fire dispatch as well!

GTO_04

 

[INDY72]

I have read somewhere here on the forums that Hamilton County will indeed be encrypting fire dispatch as well!

GTO_04

Figures.

 

[INDY72]

I could be snarky and say "of course there was no discussion because nobody brought it up". That's especially concerning since the county's 9-1-1 Director was at the meeting.

And that's surprising,... nah, not really.

 

[speedway_navigator]

I asked the county council members to be placed on the agenda for next Tuesday. Renee mentioned needing $1.2 million to help her Motorola sales rep meet his or her quota but it was presented as a 'need' to replace our 7500 series consoles. From what I get from techs on this forum those are still being sold and installed despite the supposed 2030 end of life.

Even if Motorola stops supporting them that does not mean other vendors would not, look at those vendors we see mentioned here doing service monitor repairs after the mfgs quit.

How many guys here are forced to poop and pee in 'outdated bathrooms' per our wives' description?

 

[AK9R]

Renee mentioned needing $1.2 million to help her Motorola sales rep meet his or her quota but it was presented as a 'need' to replace our 7500 series consoles.

I didn't quite understand what she was asking for other than money to keep something running that was approaching EOL. But, your wording of "$1.2 million to help her Motorola sales rep meet his or her quota" makes no sense to me. Why does the county care about their Motorola rep meeting their quota?

From the beginning of Hendricks County going on SAFE-T, there has been an apparent focus on Motorola which goes back to the very earliest meetings. As a taxpayer (oh, gee, my assessment just went up), I hope that county isn't spending money just to satisfy the Motorola rep.

As an aside, my recollection from back in the mid-to-late 1990s was that a standalone trunked system, not SAFE-T, for Hendricks County would be around $8million all-in. Of course, that would be over $16million today.