Washington county Yankee Units

[Jsvandyke]

Sometimes when listening to WCCCA law channels there is an announcment advising all yaknee units toi switch to channel 4 (common law). When they all switch to common law they are talking about signals that they are tracking to the North, East, South, and west. The "Yankee units" seem to be a few officers from different agencies including Beaverton, Tualatin, and Tigard units, and some SO Units. Does anyone know what this is all about. I actually have not heard it in a while, but when i do i have no idea what they are really tracking. but i listen to it anyways

 

[k7frk]

You are listening to a tracking system (works similar to lo-jack). I don't know much about it other than when it activates, all units with receivers switch to a different channel and attempt to locate the source through triangulation. Hope that helps.

 

[pdxbofh]

FRK is correct. A certain number of units have receivers mounted in their patrol vehicles that are nothing more than a direction finding receiver with multiple antennas.
When a receiver is activated by a transmitter (either a LoJac vehicle, or other tracking device) the units then attempt to locate the transmitter. Also, if it's a LoJac hit, a unique ID number shows up on their receivers that they can look up and get a description of the vehicle, and information about the real owner.

Hope this helps,
Will

 

[poolsidemike]

The previous posts are right on ie it's a tracking system/receiver that picks up a signal from a transmitter. Generally used by putting a very small transmitter in a bundle of bills or bank bag that is then activated when a bank robbery occurs. It's the "electronic version" of the exploding "dye pack" that has been used in the past.

You will hear dispatch indicating that certain towers are "hot"...meaning that the location of the transmitter is nearer to a certain tower so that units can start honing into a specific area. The receivers in the Yankee units have arrows and bars...the arrows will point to the direction the signal is coming from and the stronger the signal, the more bars.

Hope this helps!