I'm the guy on the radio. Not having to switch channels to mask sensitive info makes our jobs easier. Critical patient information is faster disseminated when we aren't having to worry about nefarious scanner listeners. It makes our jobs easier knowing we can communicate in privacy without having to pull the radio out, change knobs to a tac channel and other crew on the channel miss out because we switched. Staying encrypted is for all our benefit, not for scannerland.
Sorry man, if you think FIRE needs to be full time E to include routine dispatch, you dont have an argument and you are going a little too far.
Plenty of police to include large cities with brand new P25P2 systems use the best practice and go clear on dispatch and E on the rest. Thats police. Dont even wanna hear it on fire dispatch being encrypted.
It does put up barriers between the public and public safety that is supposed to protect them.
Im a LE Officer and radio system administrator. I believe im more likely to get HELP from surrounding agencies listening and yes maybe even a well intentioned citizen. Unlike some here who defend it tooth and nail and host feeds, I hate the streaming apps but understand you cant really stop it legally without getting around a whole ton of FCC precedent. I know its a huge debate on here and this will probably get deleted but if you are a scanner enthusiast and host feeds, you are contributing most to loosing the hobby. It makes folks like Kingpin want to go so far as to encrypt routine fire dispatch! In rural New England, fire departments will remind you every so often via facebook posts to listen to their dispatch feed that they themselves provide. Its amazing the different mindsets around the country.
I refuse to believe that we are at such war with our citizens that we need to lock everyone out!!! The media are dishonest. Departments of all types Fire, Police, Sheriff, DPW, not knocking anybody in particular, can be dishonest. The good people in public safety are probably more short staffed than they have ever been in history and need the publics help now more than ever. Trust is at an all time low. Lets add "youll rely on CNN and nobody else for info" to the mix. Delayed feeds dont do much good after a natural disaster that takes out everything and all thats left are your encrypted radios. Ice storm takes out internet for days, too bad, you got no info at all Joe Citizen, you are the PROBLEM. No feeds left to listen to out there at that point "compromising LE safety" but Joe Good Guy and his family are still in the dark. Great public service!
Unauthorized access to systems can be handled without E. Sensitive info can be passed securely. 2 extra seconds and more training out of your day to keep the public somewhat in the loop? Damn right! Boo hoo, its inconvenient. Id love to know what you are really passing over FD dispatch thats all that sensitive or tell me about all the other things we have to do in public safety in 2023 that are inconvenient are doable but god forbid the radios be clear like they have been for 90 years. Please spare me...
