[Scan-DC] Speak up now about keeping police activities open

[Alan Henney]

Victoria Advocate (Texas)

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News

April 27, 2010 Tuesday

EDITORIAL: Advocate editorial board opinion: Speak up now about keeping police activities open

BYLINE: Victoria Advocate, Texas

SECTION: COMMENTARY

LENGTH: 549 words

Apr. 27--You hold more power than you may know.

Ultimately, elected officials answer to you. And those elected officials direct all aspects of public work, including law enforcement. If you don't like a law or a law enforcement policy, you have the power to change it.

We have heard from many Victoria County residents who want to be informed via the police scanner. They are alarmed by law enforcement plans to switch in June to a $6.1 million digitally encrypted system. 

Police say they need to encrypt the system to keep the bad guys from listening, but that's a straw man's argument. Law enforcement already have many ways to keep the criminals in the dark about what they are doing. They can upgrade their communications system without shutting out the people who pay their salaries.

In Victoria County, the emergency dispatch center is operated by the city but used and funded jointly by the county. That means, if you live in Victoria County, you should talk with your city council representatives and county commissioners about this issue.

Let them know you think the public should be able to be informed in real time about emergency calls. Even if you don't personally listen to the scanner, you still probably want to know if your child's school is locked down, if there's a hazardous spill in your neighborhood, or if there's a hurricane bearing down on Victoria.

All of this and more won't be possible if Victoria law enforcement proceed with plans to silence their scanners.

Police chief Bruce Ure has said he wants to work out a way for the newspaper and TV station to have scanners to remain tuned in to the dispatch center. We take him at his word and think that's a step in the right direction. This is the arrangement many other cities across the country have set up after converting to a digital system.

However, you still need to speak up on your own behalf.

In San Antonio several years ago, law enforcement officials backed off encrypting their general radio traffic because of a public uproar. You can have the same effect here. Law enforcement operations continue to go on just fine in San Antonio.

Few people dispute the need for police to keep certain communication secret. Gang and drug enforcement come immediately to mind.

However, this can and is being done with current technology. You know, just by using common sense, that improved technology makes it even easier to keep secrets while at the same time even better informing the public.

All that's required is a desire by law enforcement to go to the trouble do so.

A step forward in technology should not be a step backward in community policing.

You are an integral part of effective police work.

Make yourself heard now so that you may continue to hear and know in the future about the activities of public law enforcement.

This editorial reflects the views of the Victoria Advocate's editorial board.

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