Why is the Forest County Sheriff's Dept Digital?
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Are they digital, or are they encrypted, or both?
mikey60
Member
Maybe they have something to hide?
Too bad...
This kind of stuff tends to kill community support of the department. Use encryption when it's needed, not all the time. If you want it to change, you're going to have to become the "squeaky wheel".
Mike
Too bad...
This kind of stuff tends to kill community support of the department. Use encryption when it's needed, not all the time. If you want it to change, you're going to have to become the "squeaky wheel".
Mike
I read a while back that there was a sizeable narcotics ring operating in that county, which was busted. This may have something to do with it. However, it makes no sense to me whatsoever to use encryption all the time. This could turn into a Public Relations problem down the road, especially if the department comes under investigation for anything.
73's
Ron
73's
Ron
Stephen
Member
The dept will have recordings of there own radio traffic so if they come under investigation they can use that to show what they had said.
They might be worried about people listening to commit crime if the town has a high crime rate. and also that bust
I dont think it makes a bad community relation with the dept.
I think just a bad scanner listener dept relation.
I am in the process planning out some digital systems for poeple
What I think is that the main dispatch channel does not need encryption but tac and narc and info channels should though there is info on those channels that can be harmful atleast in my area.
They might be worried about people listening to commit crime if the town has a high crime rate. and also that bust
I dont think it makes a bad community relation with the dept.
I think just a bad scanner listener dept relation.
I am in the process planning out some digital systems for poeple
What I think is that the main dispatch channel does not need encryption but tac and narc and info channels should though there is info on those channels that can be harmful atleast in my area.
mikey60
Member
I agree with Narcotics, Detectives (especially IA), and some tac channels (Depending on circumstances) being encrypted. There are a few channels on the Michigan State system that I think should be encrypted, but currently are not.
In general, regular dispatch channels should not be encrypted (there are always exceptions, but full time encryption should be avoided).
Here's why I believe this:
1. With open communications, the community becomes an extension of the law enforcement department. Whenever a BOL is issued for a suspect, in many cases it's a citizen, listening to their scanner, that calls in the tip that leads to the apprehension of the suspect. With full time encryption, you lose those extra sets of eyes that can help get people like that off the streets.
2. When I see a department that runs full time encryption, I wonder what it is that they need to hide. These departments eventually get branded as "secret police" agencies, and without the community able to know what the department is up to, eventually the department will have some corruption, it's just human nature.
I think if you really sit down and think about it, you would find that the majority of scanner listeners have no interest in committing crimes, or interferring with the police. They just want to know what's going on around them.
Yes there are criminals that use scanners during the commission of a crime. It's unfortunate that those few criminals add fuel to the fire of these law enforcement agencies that want to stop everyone from listening, just because of that small percentage of people that use scanners for illegal purposes.
Mike
In general, regular dispatch channels should not be encrypted (there are always exceptions, but full time encryption should be avoided).
Here's why I believe this:
1. With open communications, the community becomes an extension of the law enforcement department. Whenever a BOL is issued for a suspect, in many cases it's a citizen, listening to their scanner, that calls in the tip that leads to the apprehension of the suspect. With full time encryption, you lose those extra sets of eyes that can help get people like that off the streets.
2. When I see a department that runs full time encryption, I wonder what it is that they need to hide. These departments eventually get branded as "secret police" agencies, and without the community able to know what the department is up to, eventually the department will have some corruption, it's just human nature.
I think if you really sit down and think about it, you would find that the majority of scanner listeners have no interest in committing crimes, or interferring with the police. They just want to know what's going on around them.
Yes there are criminals that use scanners during the commission of a crime. It's unfortunate that those few criminals add fuel to the fire of these law enforcement agencies that want to stop everyone from listening, just because of that small percentage of people that use scanners for illegal purposes.
Mike
I agree with only that TAC and NARC channels should have full time encryption. The only problem with Forest county is that I believe that sheriff's dept. only has one frequency for their dispatch. At least that how it was the last time I was up there which was a while ago. Crandon has their own Disptach but that I don't believe is digital nor encrypted at all.
I still don't see why they need full time encryption. If they need encryption they should set it up were they can just "switch" over to encryption.
I still don't see why they need full time encryption. If they need encryption they should set it up were they can just "switch" over to encryption.
I know of one police department that went to full-time encryption and it really upset many of the residents. However, since this was 25 years ago, they were using analog speech inversion, and it was easily decoded. Apparently, several police officers would after arresting a person, take their keys and help themselves to the contents of their automobile and/or house, then boast about it over the radio.
How morally wrong and stupid of them to break the trust of the citizens of the community making them no better than the people they arrest. Thankfully, many of the guilty went to prison.
73's
Ron
How morally wrong and stupid of them to break the trust of the citizens of the community making them no better than the people they arrest. Thankfully, many of the guilty went to prison.
73's
Ron
*Update*
I was wrong on fulltime use of encryption.
According to the Editor of the local newspaper, the Forest County Sheriff's Department transmissions on 155.730 are digital and encryption is rarely used.
I was also informed that the newspaper office has been able to monitor radio traffic on a radio provided by the Sheriff's Dept since the transition from analog to digital was completed in 2001.
I was wrong on fulltime use of encryption.
According to the Editor of the local newspaper, the Forest County Sheriff's Department transmissions on 155.730 are digital and encryption is rarely used.
I was also informed that the newspaper office has been able to monitor radio traffic on a radio provided by the Sheriff's Dept since the transition from analog to digital was completed in 2001.
triryche
Member
They are not 100% encrypted.
They have encryption available which is used but not all comms are encrypted. Most are easily decoded with any P25 capable scanner. I speak from regular experience in the area.
They have encryption available which is used but not all comms are encrypted. Most are easily decoded with any P25 capable scanner. I speak from regular experience in the area.
LarrySC
Member
Short answer: Grant Money. The Fed is pumping grant money into almost every county in the US. Some funds have to be matched and others dont. Get this. The local DOG CATCHER, Building Codes Inspector and the city buses <GTA> moved from the local business band 800 trunking to the state of SC's 800 trunking digital system just because they could get grant money to buy new radios. The bottom line is always the DOLLAR.
triryche
Member
Actually, Forest County Sheriff went P25 well before 9/11 or anything like that. In fact, they were the first in the state of WI to obtain P25 for Law Enforcement back in the late 90's. I don't think Federal grants or funding played a major role in it. I think they just basically bit on a salesman's pitch. They claim digital communications works so much better in rural, forested terrain than analog. Perhaps this was a bait they took when they purchased it. The county generally has just 2 or 3 units working per shift and didn't have to purchase a huge quantity of radios so price may not have been the biggest factor. They may have also been given the equipment to take part in a case study because as I mentioned, they were on it several years ago already. Can't say exact but I want to say Mid 1997 or 1998 they switched to P25.
Since then, Marinette Co. has adopted it for Sheriff F-1. All comms using P25 are encrypted on that system. Also expect Oconto Co. to be jumping the P25 bandwagon soon and also some of the other tourist destinations near Rhinelander and Minoqua.
Since then, Marinette Co. has adopted it for Sheriff F-1. All comms using P25 are encrypted on that system. Also expect Oconto Co. to be jumping the P25 bandwagon soon and also some of the other tourist destinations near Rhinelander and Minoqua.
CapnJon
Member
Florence Co. Digital...
My opinion is 'cause the U.P. is also digital, so the "Central Times" Zones of Michigan always joint op's w/ the Neighboring Wis Counties...Iron Co. is digital, Villa's county...etc... :?:
My opinion is 'cause the U.P. is also digital, so the "Central Times" Zones of Michigan always joint op's w/ the Neighboring Wis Counties...Iron Co. is digital, Villa's county...etc... :?:
N
N_Jay
Guest
Federal Grants and interoperability programs existed long before 9/11.
Most of the public does not car about about liosteining to police comms.
Most of Law Enforcement does not want the "help" that scanner listeners provide.
Most of the public does not car about about liosteining to police comms.
Most of Law Enforcement does not want the "help" that scanner listeners provide.
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