Media story on encryption

[Dispatch2323]

It looks like the Indy media has been made aware of encryption coming soon.

Some central Indiana police agencies to encrypt all police radio transmissions

With police agencies moving to encrypted communications, some members of the public and media worry about less police transparency.

www.wthr.com

 

[ctiller]

how often are SSN broadcast over unencrypted channels? I rarely hear that anymore. At least they're having a time delayed stream available unlike a lot of places.

 

[IndyScan]

How about we tell officers not to broadcast SSNs over the air?

But seriously...

I have been scanning off and on for 25+ years. Drivers' Licenses used to use SSN for the license number (long time ago), and they used to read SSN over the air all the time. Since they changed licenses to a unique OLN (Operator License Number), I can't tell you the last time I heard an SSN read over the air. MAYBE if the person has no ID, but they usually start with Name & DOB and can do a lot of the lookup over the MDT.

I'm curious how this is going to work for interoperability between county agencies. Guessing they're going to have to use the Mutual Aid frequencies a lot more.

No word in the article about IMPD or ISP going encrypted, so at least I'll still have something to listen to in the background in Hamilton County (for now).

 

[ctiller]

yup the SSN thing is just a BS excuse to ram encryption through and we all know it.

 

[Dispatch2323]

I've heard there will be a change.org petition started soon. Contact 911 Director mike.hubbs@hamiltoncounty.in.gov to express your concern.

 

[AK9R]

Article about Hendricks County law enforcement turning on encryption: People losing access to real-time police radio traffic in Hendricks County

 

[WA9BD]

I live in Hendricks Co. and have been monitoring county LE and Fire for years. In the last couple of months I've noticed a lot of audio problems and digital errors on my SDS scanners. I've also heard a lot of radio checks (Motorola techs, I presume). I had a sneaking suspicion something was going on. County LE has had their OPS and Headquarters traffic encrypted for many months, so this really isn't a surprise. Just hoping Fire doesn't go silent as I'll have a couple of SDS 200's for sale.

 

[WA9BD]

No word in the article about IMPD or ISP going encrypted, so at least I'll still have something to listen to in the background in Hamilton County (for now).

I heard Hamilton Co. is going encrypted in July (?)

 

[ten13]

I've heard there will be a change.org petition started soon. Contact 911 Director mike.hubbs@hamiltoncounty.in.gov to express your concern.

Yeah, right....you got some case.

I'm sure the 911 Director will take his feet off the desk and say, "Wait a minute: a bunch of radio enthusiasts and hobbyists say that encryption will interfere with their personal entertainment. Maybe we better scratch the whole idea....."

You better get used to the idea that encryption is inevitable.

 

[N9TKF]

yup the SSN thing is just a BS excuse to ram encryption through and we all know it.

You are only required to provide name and DOB to an officer. SSN should not be used for ID...... It says so on the SSN card ......

 

[Dispatch2323]

Yeah, right....you got some case.

I'm sure the 911 Director will take his feet off the desk and say, "Wait a minute: a bunch of radio enthusiasts and hobbyists say that encryption will interfere with their personal entertainment. Maybe we better scratch the whole idea....."

You better get used to the idea that encryption is inevitable.

You are correct encryption is inevitable...but....we have seen some agencies that went encrypted early on in California/Colorado starting to reverse their decision. Just because it's inevitable doesn't mean we should stand by and wait for the police to send out a release on things happening in our communities. Press releases aren't always the entire story...i.e. Minneapolis, Louisville and Memphis. There is nothing wrong as citizens expressing our concern in a polite and respectful way. Key words polite and respect. Like with everything, there has to be a balance and not an extreme. At least Hendricks County offered that balance with the 15 minute delay. Hopefully, the delay will keep officers safe and provide a level of transparency for the public and media.

 

[Dispatch2323]

I heard Hamilton Co. is going encrypted in July (?)

yes, Hamilton County will go with police encryption on primary dispatch before July 1 according to the Channel 13 and Channel 8 reports.

 

[INDY72]

Johnson County ran an SSN other day to verify an warrant as there was some conflicting data. IMPD did a ask about an SSN for same reason, but they told the officer to TX it.

 

[usswood]

You are correct encryption is inevitable...but....we have seen some agencies that went encrypted early on in California/Colorado starting to reverse their decision. Just because it's inevitable doesn't mean we should stand by and wait for the police to send out a release on things happening in our communities. Press releases aren't always the entire story...i.e. Minneapolis, Louisville and Memphis. There is nothing wrong as citizens expressing our concern in a polite and respectful way. Key words polite and respect. Like with everything, there has to be a balance and not an extreme. At least Hendricks County offered that balance with the 15 minute delay. Hopefully, the delay will keep officers safe and provide a level of transparency for the public and media.

Happen here when THPD first switched to Safe-T...ran off to ENC and after many, many complaints from other LEO's who couldn't assist on calls/chases because of ENC, they went back to their open talk-group...So yes it can happen!

 

[WA9BD]

It's confirmed. Hendricks LE real-time comms went silent Monday. Fire and EMS are still in the clear (for now).

 

[Mattnik]

Yeah, right....you got some case.

I'm sure the 911 Director will take his feet off the desk and say, "Wait a minute: a bunch of radio enthusiasts and hobbyists say that encryption will interfere with their personal entertainment. Maybe we better scratch the whole idea....."

You better get used to the idea that encryption is inevitable.

Exactly. I work in dispatch and get calls daily from scanner enthusiasts saying "Hey can you repeat what was just said? I missed it." or even worse "What is John Smith wanted for???". Both of which are something that I never would have considered doing back in the day.

When I started listening, it was a fairly elite club. Now everyone is doing it, and the danger to the safety of first responders is real. I'm glad everyone is going encrypted.

As for the "but we're missing out on what our public servants are saying" argument, the time to make that stand would have been on the 12th of September, 2001 when the seeds were planted. Instead the hobbyists planted themselves firmly in the "they aren't encrypted here, so I don't care" attitude.

Divided, you were all conquered.

Again, being the dude sitting behind the console, I welcome this, The danger to responders is just too real now. I've witnessed it.

My $0.02

Matt

 

[N9EXR66]

Matt, WHY ARE YOU HERE?!?!?!?!?!?!

 

[chrismol1]

Exactly. I work in dispatch and get calls daily from scanner enthusiasts saying "Hey can you repeat what was just said? I missed it." or even worse "What is John Smith wanted for???". Both of which are something that I never would have considered doing back in the day.

Holy sh*t wow...just...wow...thats some entitlement right there. Do they call 911 for these "updates & information"?

 

[Mattnik]

Holy sh*t wow...just...wow...thats some entitlement right there. Do they call 911 for these "updates & information"?

They have, yes. Not always. I'll write a book after I retire....

 

[Mattnik]

Matt, WHY ARE YOU HERE?!?!?!?!?!?!

I like scanning, and monitoring things just like everybody else. And the majority of people on here are enthusiasts that I'm sure act responsibly. However there are many that are not represented here that do not. And those are the ones that cause the issues.

Things have changed since I started lugging my PRO-21 scanner around. And public safety has to change to meet the times we live in, much like other industries. I'm just giving you the reasons I feel most LE agencies are moving towards encryption. And stating that the time to raise a ruckus and start change-org petitions et al passed a couple of decades ago. most of FL LE is encrypted. There were no successful challenges to this. Most of the new TRS being built are encrypted fully from the initial build out. Heck, most business systems are encrypted. It's no longer a question of affording it, it's just being enabled from the get go.

I'm back to monitoring my local school corp and the shopping centers. Just where I started back in 1989. Even those are starting to encrypt.

Perry Township Metropolitan School District (DMR) Trunking System, Indianapolis, Indiana

Perry Township Metropolitan School District (DMR) Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

Mall of America Trunking System, Bloomington, Minnesota
(not local but I took my niece there in 2018)

I get the frustration, I'm just saying that the time to fight this is long gone.

Matt