Some where I read LVMPD will not issue radios to the media. Media would have access to a secure website listing most police calls. Sorry can't remember where I seen this or how reliable the source
I guess I’m not surprised that Metro is shutting out the Media too. Let’s face it; the only reason that they ever wanted that expensive system is so they can operate in the dark.
On Metro’s web site the Sheriff says that he has two goals that he wants to accomplish. One is to initiate timely and open communication, and the second is to effectively use innovation and technology. Excuse me, but do you really initiate open communication by switching to a radio system that absolutely no one else can hear? I have also heard the favorite buzz word “interoperability” thrown around loosely whenever the radio system is discussed. Why should they pretend to care about that when it is evident that they don’t intend to share this system with any other entity? Metro is determined to have its own private radio system and they don’t intend to let anybody else use it or hear it and they don’t care how much it costs!
A few months’s ago when the Sheriff was being interviewed on KXNT radio, a caller asked him why the web site no longer offers an audio feed for citizens to listen to. For a long time it was featured prominently on the site. I think that you and I as well as that caller already know the answer to that question, but the Sheriff’s answer was that he didn’t know anything about it and he never even knew it was there.
On another part of the web site, he addresses the technology issue by saying it was necessary to “upgrade” the radio system in order to “reduce operational costs.” I’d love to see the fuzzy math on that one! Just how do you reduce costs by trashing a perfectly good working system and replacing it with a glitzy multi-million dollar project? I would also have to question the timing aspect. Yes, I know that the system has been in the planning stages for a while, but could there ever be a worse time to do this than at a time when the state, county and city are all suffering from massive budget shortfalls?
And let’s not forget exactly where the money is coming from. If you don’t know then just go look in the mirror! At a time when unemployment is over 10% and Vegas is the foreclosure capital of the world, many of us taxpayers are grappling with the severity of just trying to feed our families and keep a roof over our head.
Another thing that concerns me is all the recent incidents where police officers broke the rules or broke the law resulting in some horrendous accidents and even death. In almost every case, wrongdoing by the officers was immediately denied… at least until enough facts emerged to the contrary and then the wrongdoing was admitted. What happens when details and facts concerning these kinds of incidents are no longer public knowledge? Will the powers that be still be inclined to admit wrongdoing or will it be way too convenient to spin the story to a more comfortable conclusion?
In case you are wondering, I am speaking somewhat from experience now. Many years ago I lived in a small Midwestern town. The County Sheriff’s department there one day outfitted all of the Police cars with “scramblers.” These were simple voice inversion units but at the time they probably seemed pretty high tech. Also, the average citizen was pretty naïve about electronics at the time. Being a Ham, I had enough knowledge to construct a variable oscillator in order to un-scramble those Police scramblers! I witnessed an amazing transformation taking place in just a very short period of time!
At first they used the scramblers sparingly and only for sensitive communications. As they became more comfortable with them they began using them more often, and not just for sensitive transmissions, but also for telling jokes, using questionable language, and even making fun of people at crime scenes, etc. It became very clear to me that since they “thought” that the general public wasn’t listening, this empowered them to abuse the situation more and more as time went on. It was a simple case of human nature!
Please don’t get me wrong. I wholeheartedly respect and support our Police, Firefighters, EMS and all the other first responders out there. However, this isn’t a matter of just emotional opinion. This is a matter of sheer common sense! In closing all I can say is I hope that all those concerned enjoy playing with their expensive new toys. Talk about a kid in a candy store! Speaking of toys… my kids would probably like to get one or two for Christmas. Anybody know where I can get a job?
