The PD in West Haven is going encrypted today at some point. The following is a post from the Chief to the public via the West Haven PD facebook page. While being an avid listener and living in town, I can fully understand and to an extent agree with the reasons the Chief is implementing this. Does it cut my ability to know what is going on? To an extent but I am not going to get into that. If I have to stop listening to the PD then so be it. In our present climate, the police are targets everywhere. If it comes to my being able to listen to someone coming home at night....Take the channel. I know that some may not agree with that but if you sit back and really Think about it, it does make sense and safety. Don't be surprised if Police Departments trend this way.
West Haven Police Department
1 hr ·
On August 23rd, as part of our new radio system implementation, the West Haven Police Department will be operating on an encrypted channel. This means all police communications will no longer be able to be monitored by the public . I recognize that there are many citizens of the city that enjoy listening to the police calls on their scanners and that others feel it is important for transparency in police operations. There were several determining factors that went into the decision making process. First and foremast is the safety of our officers. We know the “bad guys” monitor our channels and they know where we are, and perhaps more importantly where we are not! We live in a post 9/11 world where incidents and threats of terrorism are a reality. Add to this the active shooter scenarios and recent threats to kill police officers. The ability to dispatch our police officers, communicate and coordinate these operations effectively; it only makes sense to utilize encryption.
Encryption will also protect the integrity of our investigations. Open radio communications coupled with social media have led to reporting detailed circumstances regarding police investigations that would only be known to the officers investigating the incident (number of shots fired, shell casing, weapon type and caliber, vehicle and suspect descriptions, including witnesses). This information broadcasted is being monitored and then put out on Social Media almost in real time of the events occurring.
Encryption will also protect sensitive information including names, dates of births, license numbers, and addresses of individuals including complainants, witnesses, and others who have contact with the police.
In regards to transparency in police operations, this agency will provide transparency through our Department’s web page, crime analysis data, community meetings, WHPD Face Book page and our Public Information Officer.
I considered all of the above as well as having discussed the matter with officers of various ranks and positions in the department and made the decision to utilize encryption.
As always thank you for continually supporting your Police Department.
Best Regards: Chief John Karajanis.
West Haven Police Department
1 hr ·
On August 23rd, as part of our new radio system implementation, the West Haven Police Department will be operating on an encrypted channel. This means all police communications will no longer be able to be monitored by the public . I recognize that there are many citizens of the city that enjoy listening to the police calls on their scanners and that others feel it is important for transparency in police operations. There were several determining factors that went into the decision making process. First and foremast is the safety of our officers. We know the “bad guys” monitor our channels and they know where we are, and perhaps more importantly where we are not! We live in a post 9/11 world where incidents and threats of terrorism are a reality. Add to this the active shooter scenarios and recent threats to kill police officers. The ability to dispatch our police officers, communicate and coordinate these operations effectively; it only makes sense to utilize encryption.
Encryption will also protect the integrity of our investigations. Open radio communications coupled with social media have led to reporting detailed circumstances regarding police investigations that would only be known to the officers investigating the incident (number of shots fired, shell casing, weapon type and caliber, vehicle and suspect descriptions, including witnesses). This information broadcasted is being monitored and then put out on Social Media almost in real time of the events occurring.
Encryption will also protect sensitive information including names, dates of births, license numbers, and addresses of individuals including complainants, witnesses, and others who have contact with the police.
In regards to transparency in police operations, this agency will provide transparency through our Department’s web page, crime analysis data, community meetings, WHPD Face Book page and our Public Information Officer.
I considered all of the above as well as having discussed the matter with officers of various ranks and positions in the department and made the decision to utilize encryption.
As always thank you for continually supporting your Police Department.
Best Regards: Chief John Karajanis.
This 'Chief' is applying a protectionistic policy that one-sidedly stinks of hiding something. All his reasoning will cost a LOT of $ (for not only local funding but also neighboring agencies) AND may actually hurt inter-agency cooperation agreements. What actually is this guy afraid of? If it is for 'protecting' his officers, then his solution is in error. Filtering all this PUBLIC information through PA mouthpieces, is giving a well deserved atmosphere of a cover-up down the road. The PUBLIC has a right to access, encryption infringes on that right. The frequencies licensed by the FCC to this organization responsible to the PUBLIC must be open to third party supervision. How many times does public radio monitoring contradict an 'official' release? In this jurisdiction, this 'Chief' insures accountability is kept out of the public interests. BAD decision, and I hope public advocates bring a lawsuit to this action. If not immediately, then after an accusation of a cover-up. The use of the frequencies assigned are for PUBLIC service, encryption of said signals contradict this application. 
