Question for you LEO's out there on Police Scanners

[MCCO]

How do you all feel about scanners and the general public listening to police calls?

Do you think all communications should be encrypted?

I feel that the most sensitive of operations should be encrypted. Drug stings Vice units narcotics ect. But the day to day dispatching should be left "In the clear".

The percentage of arrests in the US where the arresting officer found a scanner being used in the commision of the crime is so low it doesn't even regester. It is like less than 1% of total arrests. So the argument that criminals are "listening in" really isn't supported by fact.


What are your thoughts?

[qpd158]

We rely heavily on MDT for dispatching details. Very little radio traffic anymore on addresses, names unless you check them for dl/wants/warrants etc. It is popular around here for the dopers to possess and utilize scanners. It also pisses them off when you run their name, even when you don't see them, just so that they have to hear their names over the airwaves.

[txinvestigator1]

My first thought is that I'd like to know where you got your 1% figure from.

Second thought is that it's a non-issue as most of the people who really want to know what we're doing are lonely little old ladies who get a thrill out of hearing about crime in the neighborhood and those strange no-friend-having LEO-wannabe kids who fantasize about running out and joining in any nearby police situation.

And me when I am working in the office. ;)

[cecilVA]

And me when I am working in the office. ;)

So Tex do you fall into the first or second category that DC mentioned? :D

[txinvestigator1]

So Tex do you fall into the first or second category that DC mentioned? :D

Take your pick. :p

[MCCO]

Well I read the statistic in the local news paper so I am not sure if its entirely accurate. You think its higher? :rolleyes:


There is a rather large population of people who are in no way old ladies or wanabe's who enjoy listening to police fire ems ect on there scanners. Some people like to be kept in the know and also some like to keep tabs on what there local cops are doing in there neighborhoods.

Me I HAVE to listen to it as its part of my job as a radio tech. But to some it is a hobby.

How many of you are aware of the scanner laws in your jurisdiction and do you enforce them? Are you aware of the federal pre exemption in regards to Amature radio operaters and scanners?

The reason I ask these questions is really to get a sense of how you the LEO's feel about it. I have been reading a lot of posts on other boards I frequent about LEO's sezing equipment and not understanding or not tolerating scanners and such.

[valycop]

The percentage of arrests in the US where the arresting officer found a scanner being used in the commision of the crime is so low it doesn't even regester. It is like less than 1% of total arrests. So the argument that criminals are "listening in" really isn't supported by fact.

We're finding more and more that the experienced criminals are not only using scanners, but they're stationing lookouts with Family Radio Service walkie-talkies to alert each other to our approach.

My opinion, if I had my way, all of our way police communication would be encrypted. The general public doesn't need to know what we're doing on a minute by minute basis. If the situation is serious enough and warrants warning the general public then we'll notify local radio stations, go house to house or use the PA systems in our cars. It's amazing how often people will misinterpret what they've heard on a scanner and blow a situation out of proportion to the real incident. This is especially true of the press who catch portions of radio traffic and don't really know the whole story.

This happened not long ago when there was a private corporate jet that was having engine trouble. It radio'd the air traffic controller that it was going to land at our regional airport. The air traffic controller notified our EMS and us as well as the state police. Well what started out as a small corporate jet grew into a Boeing 737. The end of the story was a safe landing a minor adjustment to the malfunctioning engine and the jet was on it's way again.

Enough said.

[Johninaustin]

It's already encrypted. Most scanners won't pick up digital traffic unless you spend $$ for the pricier ones. Most little old ladies are going to be dissapointed, all the really interesting stuff goes over the MDC.

Why anyone would want to listen to our traffic is beyond me. I can't imagine being THAT bored.:eek:

[MCCO]

Intresting.

Just playing devils advocate here so don't think I am a liberal goober ;) (No offence to any liberal goober here).

What about the people who argue "What do you have to hide"? Police transmissions have been in the clear ever since the 2 way radio was invented. Do the criminals really have an advantage listening in?


I am on my way to the academy and to be honest I don't know how I feel about the whole issue. I do know that sensitive police activity should be encrypted. But encrypting the entire system so no one can monintor is a bit of a over kill.

As well the FCC has always made exeptions for news media and a few have taken municipalites to court and won where there local police have shut them out with encryption. The publics right to know and the protection of the police needs to be balanced IMO. I just don't feel that the public should be shut out 100%.

[thelemite]

If I have to communicate something that I would rather not go over open air, it goes by cell phone. It is unfortunate that I feel that is necessary at times, but at least the option is available. Anyone listening to our communications will generally be bored by all the chronic burgular alarms and turn to another frequency anyway.

[MCCO]

It's already encrypted. Most scanners won't pick up digital traffic unless you spend $$ for the pricier ones. Most little old ladies are going to be dissapointed, all the really interesting stuff goes over the MDC.

Why anyone would want to listen to our traffic is beyond me. I can't imagine being THAT bored.:eek:

Well the FCC rules state that encrypted siginals can not be monintored by anyone except the intended recipents. So there will never be a scanner that will be able to monintor encrypted siginals it is against FCC regs to do so. Digital is different that encrypted. In fact a digital syetem can be both digital and analog and have encryption built into it. Its all in how you set it up and what system you set up. In fact one of the many issues facing local and county municipilaties is interoperability. How then is one department going to talk to another if one is using encryption and the other is not. Throw in one using a Motorola Type II system and the other using a EDACS system and its next to impossible.

Its a communication nightmare for Communication Managers like my self who have to find a way to link departments in the same county with each other using different systems.

But I have gone off on a tagent. Communication interoperability is a hot button topic and is something that will have to evolve over time.

[MCCO]

If I have to communicate something that I would rather not go over open air, it goes by cell phone. It is unfortunate that I feel that is necessary at times, but at least the option is available. Anyone listening to our communications will generally be bored by all the chronic burgular alarms and turn to another frequency anyway.

Correct Cell Phones can no longer be monintored. There 100% digital and fully encrypted. It is impossible to track unless you have a VERY expensive service monintor and even then its very hard to do so.

Nextel is IDEN and can't be monintored either.

And your right it is borning listening to LEO's on the radio. In fact when the day is done I really don't want to see another radio or hear another cry for service. :p

[MCCO]

Sorry to spam my own thread.

But its intresting talking to you guys about this. I know how other LEO's in my county feel about it but its cool to see how others feel about it.

:D

[Menace]

I would prefer it that all of our commo was 100%shut out from the public. But I'm a paranoid nutball.

[Group9]

How do you all feel about scanners and the general public listening to police calls?

Do you think all communications should be encrypted?

I feel that the most sensitive of operations should be encrypted. Drug stings Vice units narcotics ect. But the day to day dispatching should be left "In the clear".

The percentage of arrests in the US where the arresting officer found a scanner being used in the commision of the crime is so low it doesn't even regester. It is like less than 1% of total arrests. So the argument that criminals are "listening in" really isn't supported by fact.


What are your thoughts?

I don't know where you get those figures. I would say we find scanners on drug warrants at least 25 per cent of the time. But, we encrypt all of our transmissions anyway, so it doesn't really matter for us.