[Scan-DC] Windsor (Ontario, Canada) PD encrypt radios tomorrow

[Andrew Clegg]

Sgt Corey is quoted as saying "[t]here are some Freedom of Information Act 
issues that we have not been able to control in the past," apparently in 
partial justification for going encrypted.

I don't know what the Freedom of Information Act laws are in Canada, but 
here in the U.S., they are there to enable the public to more freely access 
government information, not make it more difficult. The primary purpose of 
the Act has nothing to do with protecting personal information, at least not 
here in the U.S.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Alan Henney" <alan at henney.com>
To: "Scan DC" <Scan-DC at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 9:17 PM
Subject: [Scan-DC] Windsor (Ontario, Canada) PD encrypt radios tomorrow


>
> Windsor Star (Ontario)
>
> April 21, 2009 Tuesday
> Final Edition
>
> Police radio scanners to fall silent
>
> BYLINE: Trevor Wilhelm, The Windsor Star
>
> SECTION: NEWS; Pg. A2
>
> LENGTH: 476 words
>
> Windsor police will block the media and armchair scanner listeners
> from monitoring their radio communications starting Wednesday, saying
> they're trying to protect the privacy of accused criminals and
> victims.
>
> Sgt. Brett Corey said the change will stop thousands of people with
> scanners across Windsor from listening in on police as they respond to
> emergencies and other calls.
>
> "When our officers are at scenes, they're running personal information
> of not only victims, but accused people," said Corey. "That
> information is flowing over the airwaves freely. There are some
> Freedom of Information Act issues that we have not been able to
> control in the past. You've heard it how many times where somebody's
> personal information is being given out over the air, with regard to
> criminal records, conditions, sensitive information. With this new
> digital system, we are now able to control how that information
> flows."
>
> Police will make the switch to an encrypted digital radio system at 7
> a.m. Wednesday. Instead of permitting local media to monitor scanners,
> police have created a website listing incidents after officers have
> responded to them.
>
> Insp. George McPhee said the switch is also part of a natural
> progression in technology. The whole city will be on the same digital
> system, including police, public works, transit and other departments,
> he said. The cost to switch over the whole city system, including
> infrastructure, equipment and a fourth transmitter site in the south
> Windsor area, was $10 million.
>
> "This is the natural evolution of the city system," said McPhee. "This
> is not a police system. This is the corporate system. We're the first
> group to go live on the new system, and we're going live on encrypted
> mode."
>
> Corey said Durham and Niagara regional police use the encrypted
> system, and London police have had it for a decade.
>
> "We're just one of the police services in a long line that's moving
> this way," said Corey.
>
> Apart from technological advances, police said they are mainly trying
> to obey laws that prohibit the unintended release of people's
> sensitive information.
>
> "The only reason in the past we weren't able to protect that
> information was we didn't have the means to," said McPhee.
>
> Listening in on that sensitive information has been a popular pastime
> for many Windsorites, said Corey.
>
> "We go to calls and we're talking on the radio, and next thing you
> know I'm hearing my voice in the guy's garage while he's sitting there
> having a beer."
>
> He said police have often received complaints from people whose names
> have gone out over the airwaves.
>
> "We get people calling in all the time saying 'I heard my name, what
> are you doing giving that information out?'" said Corey. "We've never
> had the capability of protecting that before. Now we do. We're looking
> at it in terms of liability. We're trying to be proactive. Just
> protect that information."
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Scan-DC mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/scan-dc
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Scan-DC at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>