P-25 Phase II. Looking at possible August-September time frame to cut over. Right now all PD TG's are slated to be encrypted, however there is opposition.
This was just posted on Scan-DC by Alan Henney:
MEMORANDUM
February 27, 2020
To: Council President Sidney Katz, Chair, Public Safety Committee
Councilmember Nancy Navarro, Chair, Government Operations Committee
From: Councilmember Hans Riemer
Re: Proposed Police Scanner Encryption
I am writing to respectfully request a discussion under your Committee
leadership, and a Council
decision, on the question of whether the Police Department should enable
encryption in the new public
safety radio system.
This is a very timely procurement issue. MCPD is in the process of
configuring their radios for
the new system and expected to be operational late this summer. As
presently planned, the new radios
will encrypt all radio traffic. As a result, residents with scanners will
be unable to listen to police activity.
Currently, MCPD only encrypts calls related to tactical and investigative
purposes. While encryption is
necessary for sensitive circumstances, limiting access to police
communications has inherent concerns.
Full encryption of police scanners will:
• Reduce police transparency
• Limit media access to “breaking news”
• Eliminate ability of residents to monitor radio traffic and support
police operations with tips
• Make it more difficult to dispel conspiracy theories and misinformation
Questions that may deserve discussion include:
• Will the media have access to de-encrypted scanners? Will there be a
media access plan? Is that
satisfactory to support freedom of the press?
• Do all public safety departments have the encryption code? Do they all
possess newer radio
models that de-encrypt?
• How do the encrypted scanners work with neighboring jurisdictions? Do all
local municipalities
possess newer radio models that de-encrypt? Do they have each other’s
encryption code?
• With the proposed full encryption how will police keep the public
informed?
• Is there evidence that police are facing more danger when people have
access to scanner traffic
online?
MCPD will be the first major police agency in the state to encrypt its
primary dispatch channels. I
am concerned that this issue has not been discussed publicly with local
stakeholders and residents who
may view this action as an infringement and hope that we can find a balance
between community safety
issues and transparency in order to identify the best solution to meet both
needs. Therefore, I
respectfully request that the Joint PS/GO Committee discuss this topic at a
future committee work
session while there is still time in the procurement process. Thank you.
HANS RIEMER
COUNCILMEMBER AT-LARGE
COMMITTEES:
CHAIR
PLANNING, HOUSING, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (PHED)
MEMBER
TRANSPORTATION AND ENVIRONMENT (T&E)
Montgomery County Councilmember Hans Riemer
100 Maryland Ave. Rockville, MD 20850 |
Councilmember.Riemer at montgomerycountymd.gov | 240.777.7964
