Is law enforcement very aware that we can hear them?

[GrandpaFrank]

I was just wondering what you all think about this subject. Sometimes it's as if they are keenly aware that people may be listening and they call on their fellow officers to "monitor their cell". Is this the reason they use the phone so often now?

How do you think they feel about California scanner laws allowing anyone with a few hundred bucks and a radioshack nearby to hear some of their most sensitive information?

I've even ran across a few officers who were "shocked" that I could hear them and attempted to confiscate my scanner, but were then told by their superior that they had to give it back.

Don't they go over things like this in briefings?


Just my thought of the day, I always wondered how they feel about this.

 

[NWtoSFO]

They are aware. Some officers question why it's being used, and others are fine with it. Many patrol officers have thier own scanners with them. Some agencies encourage local residents to go ahead and get a scanner to be aware of what's going on around them.

I kinda doubt the officers were "shocked". I think they were just being asses.

 

[rdale]

How do you think they feel about California scanner laws allowing anyone with a few hundred bucks and a radioshack nearby to hear some of their most sensitive information?

Highly sensitive information is encrypted or done via cellphone, so nobody else is hearing it.

I've even ran across a few officers who were "shocked" that I could hear them and attempted to confiscate my scanner, but were then told by their superior that they had to give it back.

Never advertise to anyone, especially law enforcement, that you can hear them. Nothing good comes from that.

 

[Scrapline]

I recently talked to an officer in an official capacity and was advised that they like to have citizens listen because they often call in and assist in what may be going on around them i.e. saw a suspect run through their yard or drive by heading in a particular direction etc. As far as advertising that you have the scanner; as it's been said “If they didn't see it, I didn't do it"!

 

[Eng74]

Most law enforcement and those in the fire service do not know more about their radio or radio system than how to turn it on and how to change channels. It is good to be an open society but yes there are times when encryption is needed and should be used or a cell phone or land line. A friend of mine is in law enforcement in the next county. There are a couple of members of his deparment that live in the same town and they all have take home cars. He and another officer were talking on what they thought was their "own" channel 3. They only problem was they were on CalCord so I sent him a text him who cares about what he did and some other stuff where you would have had to hear themto know. He called me really fast to ask how I knew what was going on and told him he was on CalCord and he had never heard of it. They have stopped useing Calcord like that now.

 

[inigo88]

You are sensationalizing a very mundane issue. Policies exist to prevent sensitive information from going out on the radio, and modern day police officers have many methods of communication at their disposal besides the radio, including personal and department cell phones, alphanumeric pagers and instant text-messaging via the mobile data computers in the patrol car.

Going up to random officers and exclaiming you can hear them is likely not going to have a positive outcome. But ultimately having proactive citizens listening that can be additional eyes on a BOL or outstanding suspect far outweighs any benefit to full-time encryption of routine dispatch traffic.

But being a member of this forum, I'm already automatically biased.

 

[jackj]

Our county sheriff dispatches for all the police and fire agencies in the county. When they put out a "Be On The Look Out" they preface the announcement with "All 2600 and listening units," Yes, they know we listen and they have no problem with it. Personal info and private communication is handled by cell phone and that is as it should be. I wouldn't want my address, phone number or SS number given out in the clear and I don't think you would either.

 

[GrandpaFrank]

Guys n Gals, I never stated that I approached them and advised them that I can hear them. They approached me for having a beer in my front yard (while I was washing my truck) and the scanner was sitting on the porch. The first responder, who didnt care much about the scanner and thought it was neat, was giving me a warning for drinking in public when 2 gang unit officers pulled up behind him, got out of the car, and picked up my scanner because it was rambling on. The next thing you know, the gang unit officer tells the first responder "don't worry, they cant hear us with these things". the first responder then tells him, "yes he can, it says LAPD on his screen". This then prompts the George unit to broadcast a radio check. When the George unit hears himself echo out of my scanner his head tilts backward and he rushes to his patrol car with my scanner, pulls the leather sleeve off and proceeds to hit every button on the keypad, pull the battery case out, and make a call to his superior officer. I couldnt hear much of what was going on because my radio was on, but I heard the officer say to whoever he was talking to on the phone "yes, it's programmed... no he's not on parole or probation". He then hangs up the phone and sternly asks me "where did you get this?" I reply "Radio Shack", he then looks pissed and asks "which one" I say, I dont remember, as it's been 10 years" he then says "You don't remember?" (as if i was lying). I calmly say, "No I dont". He then places my scanner back on the grass and says "you know we can take this from you for drinking in public" (used in commission of a crime I guess) I respond, "I'm very aware of that and I appreciate your leniency". He grumbles something, they get back into their cars, and head on their way.

So No, I didnt advertise that I could hear them, and Yes, some are unaware of current technology.

 

[wise871]

I can't get over that they stopped to question you for having a beer on your own property. When did that become a law? Every now and then I'll have a beer when I'm finishing up yard work or drying off my truck in my driveway.

 

[KI4VBR]

I can't get over that they stopped to question you for having a beer on your own property. When did that become a law? Every now and then I'll have a beer when I'm finishing up yard work or drying off my truck in my driveway.

The power.....it's all about the power. Who's in control? Yes officer, you are.

Plenty of good officers and some not so good.

V

 

[PJaxx]

Again?

So is this twice in less than a year that you or your family has been challenged by LAPD about having a scanner?
This story from last September, apparently your about your grandson and your scanner, is remarkably similar

I've been scanning in L.A. for years at home, in my car, out in public places and never got any attention from the police for it, even when they've stopped me to give me a ticket.

Is the scanner hooked up to a loudspeaker or something? There must be more or less to these than meets the eye.

Guys n Gals, I never stated that I approached them and advised them that I can hear them. They approached me for having a beer in my front yard (while I was washing my truck) and the scanner was sitting on the porch. The first responder, who didnt care much about the scanner and thought it was neat, was giving me a warning for drinking in public when 2 gang unit officers pulled up behind him, got out of the car, and picked up my scanner because it was rambling on. The next thing you know, the gang unit officer tells the first responder "don't worry, they cant hear us with these things". the first responder then tells him, "yes he can, it says LAPD on his screen". This then prompts the George unit to broadcast a radio check. When the George unit hears himself echo out of my scanner his head tilts backward and he rushes to his patrol car with my scanner, pulls the leather sleeve off and proceeds to hit every button on the keypad, pull the battery case out, and make a call to his superior officer. I couldnt hear much of what was going on because my radio was on, but I heard the officer say to whoever he was talking to on the phone "yes, it's programmed... no he's not on parole or probation". He then hangs up the phone and sternly asks me "where did you get this?" I reply "Radio Shack", he then looks pissed and asks "which one" I say, I dont remember, as it's been 10 years" he then says "You don't remember?" (as if i was lying). I calmly say, "No I dont". He then places my scanner back on the grass and says "you know we can take this from you for drinking in public" (used in commission of a crime I guess) I respond, "I'm very aware of that and I appreciate your leniency". He grumbles something, they get back into their cars, and head on their way.

So No, I didnt advertise that I could hear them, and Yes, some are unaware of current technology.

 

[magicjellybeans]

Seriously

I would have told them ,look moron,Im not drinking and driving,so im not killing people then call your town and tell them you feel you were being harrassed that day.Do nothing and they are going to keep doing this
stuff.Dont be surprised if they pull you over soon and check your cars.I really hate what is happening to our country,its sad.California is upset about a radio?I wouldnt have let them touch my property!They pass laws to let illegal aliens get free rides?I mean who has their priorities in the wrong order.

 

[lbfd09]

I was just wondering what you all think about this subject. Sometimes it's as if they are keenly aware that people may be listening and they call on their fellow officers to "monitor their cell". Is this the reason they use the phone so often now?

How do you think they feel about California scanner laws allowing anyone with a few hundred bucks and a radioshack nearby to hear some of their most sensitive information?

I've even ran across a few officers who were "shocked" that I could hear them and attempted to confiscate my scanner, but were then told by their superior that they had to give it back.

.... ... ... ...

I think a lot of this is "old school" and most officers today have a better understanding and acceptance of the scanners. There are many more internet devices and c-phones that can capture just as much traffic, data, and ever so much more.

As long as one plays by the rules and does not abuse it, I have yet to see an officer at least out west here scanner listeners. Sometimes they will say, "Oh, you heard me calling in on the radio?"

After all this is the 21st century not the 1950's McCarthy era.

 

[Gezelle007]

I was just wondering what you all think about this subject. Sometimes it's as if they are keenly aware that people may be listening and they call on their fellow officers to "monitor their cell". Is this the reason they use the phone so often now?

How do you think they feel about California scanner laws allowing anyone with a few hundred bucks and a radioshack nearby to hear some of their most sensitive information?

I've even ran across a few officers who were "shocked" that I could hear them and attempted to confiscate my scanner, but were then told by their superior that they had to give it back.

Don't they go over things like this in briefings?

I've been on two ride-alongs and one sit-along. It's pretty much standard for them to ask how you got interested in their field. Each time, I've said that radios and scanners started it all. None of them seemed surprised. In fact, they told me that was a good thing, because most people who start in public safety have trouble adapting to the radio language and habits. If I were ever going to go into that field, I have that skill already.

I've also been pulled over with a radio in the car that was in plain view and the guy never even mentioned it.

But then again, this all happened in Oregon...

 

[GrandpaFrank]

So is this twice in less than a year that you or your family has been challenged by LAPD about having a scanner?
This story from last September, apparently your about your grandson and your scanner, is remarkably similar

I've been scanning in L.A. for years at home, in my car, out in public places and never got any attention from the police for it, even when they've stopped me to give me a ticket.

Is the scanner hooked up to a loudspeaker or something? There must be more or less to these than meets the eye.

Actually, yes, this is twice in 1 year that myself or a family member has been harassed as I have gotten many of my friends and family interested in the excitement of listening to police scanners. It's to the point that they even bring friends over to listen while I barbecue. Many of my friends often remark "Is that legal" and are very surprised when I say yes it is. Just another example of how uninformed the public is and how the police would rather have it that way. I live in a gang infested area of Los Angeles (arent most of them) so the scanner is very interesting. My grandson lives in the same area and I programmed his scanner for him so we are both hearing the same thing. When the first cop asked about my scanner he said "why would you need it?" and my reply was "because I am a news freak and this stuff almost never makes it to the news" to which he replied, "I guess you're right, the news people have them too" I then proceeded to tell him all of the scanner laws verbatim. He said "wow, you really know your scanner laws", I said "yeah I studied them for just such an occasion. He laughed. It seems to me from what Ive experienced and heard for myself that the gang units are the ones most troubled by the public's possession of scanners.

Maybe it's because they know we can hear them when they instruct other officers to stop people and make up reasons why they stopped them. I used to think that was just someone being paranoid, but now i know it's the ugly truth.

 

[flhays]

I have been in law enforcement for 16 yrs., in two different states. I always considered the dispatch channel the most listened to radio station in town. I always understood what was heard on the radio was considered confidential by FCC Rules, but without encryption, tough to stop some one from listening, and talking about it.

 

[Gezelle007]

I have been in law enforcement for 16 yrs., in two different states. I always considered the dispatch channel the most listened to radio station in town. I always understood what was heard on the radio was considered confidential by FCC Rules, but without encryption, tough to stop some one from listening, and talking about it.

Yeah, confidential to the users and whoever is listening. I think the law is something like you aren't supposed to talk about what you hear on the radio with anyone unless they were listening to the scanner with you. Which is confusing to me since people are aloud to stream their scanners on the internet. That doesn't seem legal at all since smartphones and computers aren't scanners...

 

[pathalogical]

You say he took your radio to his car and began pushing all its buttons ? I guess you'll be using the keypad lock from now on. He did turn it off before removing the battery pack, right ? Sounds like he was trying to alter your radio from working properly. I'm glad he didn't 'accidently' break it. I wonder how that would have worked out.

Our police knows there are scanner listeners out there. Guess who....tow truck drivers. They'll often voice out to 'any tows listening, we need one at...'.

 

[mtnmadman]

I can't get over that they stopped to question you for having a beer on your own property. When did that become a law? Every now and then I'll have a beer when I'm finishing up yard work or drying off my truck in my driveway.

Well, youre not in So cal, or hellifornia, as i call it... Yep, in this CRAP hole of a state, You can be popped for drinking in your front yard, or driveway... Geez, i wish i could find another job ANYWHERE!

 

[PJaxx]

It seems to me from what Ive experienced and heard for myself that the gang units are the ones most troubled by the public's possession of scanners.

Maybe it's because they know we can hear them when they instruct other officers to stop people and make up reasons why they stopped them. I used to think that was just someone being paranoid, but now i know it's the ugly truth.

If that's a pattern that's happening to you, do what I did. Go talk to the Officer in Charge of the gang detail at whatever division you're living in. From my own experience with a problem I had in Rampart division, where I've lived all my life and also a terrible gang area, I can tell you that LAPD is a whole nother place than they used to be. Every complaint goes right to a supervisor and to the Internal Affairs division and now-a-days they are tracked until they are finished.

My problem was months old by then and I didn't know who the cop was or even the exaact date, but this lieutenant I talked to heard me out, agreed with me that what happened was against their policy, and they would investigate it and get back to me. About 2 months later I get a letter from Internal Affairs that they couldn't identify who the officer was either, but that all the officers at the station had been given retraining in the law and the policy that was involved in what happened to me. The original lieutenant I talked to called me up and we had another meeting with him and the Captain, where they explained just what the policy was and exactly how they had done the retraining. It was a whole lot more than I expected, and I was treated respectfully. If I were you I would try that route. I could tell by their attituude that they didn't want their underlings out there screwing people over.