Seems to have gone below the radar, however back on March 2nd, the LA City Council passed a motion recommending the Public Safety Committee study and work with the LAPD on protecting its radio communications.
Language of the motion drafted by Council member Englander (who also happens to chairs the Public Safety Committee) was as follows:
MOTION
One of the most widespread advances in consumer technology relates to smartphones and
the availability of mobile applications. Mobile apps installed on smartphones have made certain
existing technologies more accessible and portable, while also providing the same functionality.
An example is with mobile apps that broadcast police frequencies. Police scanner apps
are among the most popular apps in the online marketplace. However, the increased availability
and portability of police scanners may have some consequences for responding to criminal
activity. Persons attempting to evade police may find this technology especially useful.
Under state law it is a crime to use police scanners to evade arrest or to assist another
person in evading arrest, but this is not a sufficient deterrent since it is likely difficult to prove in
the court of law, To ensure that the Police Department is monitoring these advances in consumer
technology, this issue should be examined further to possibly identify better methods of
encryption and/or more secure communication methods.
I THEREFORE MOVE that the Police Department be instructed to report on how radio
and other mobile communications are encrypted and how to better secure the Department's
methods of communication.
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Language of the motion drafted by Council member Englander (who also happens to chairs the Public Safety Committee) was as follows:
MOTION
One of the most widespread advances in consumer technology relates to smartphones and
the availability of mobile applications. Mobile apps installed on smartphones have made certain
existing technologies more accessible and portable, while also providing the same functionality.
An example is with mobile apps that broadcast police frequencies. Police scanner apps
are among the most popular apps in the online marketplace. However, the increased availability
and portability of police scanners may have some consequences for responding to criminal
activity. Persons attempting to evade police may find this technology especially useful.
Under state law it is a crime to use police scanners to evade arrest or to assist another
person in evading arrest, but this is not a sufficient deterrent since it is likely difficult to prove in
the court of law, To ensure that the Police Department is monitoring these advances in consumer
technology, this issue should be examined further to possibly identify better methods of
encryption and/or more secure communication methods.
I THEREFORE MOVE that the Police Department be instructed to report on how radio
and other mobile communications are encrypted and how to better secure the Department's
methods of communication.
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