[Scan-DC] ALEXANDRIA SCANNERS

[johnson at cpcug.org]

As we all know, criminals have been using scanners or similar radios as
long as police have used radios.  Back in the ol' Montgomery County
analogue days, two burglars, "The Gentlemen Bandits" 10+ years ago
possessed scanners when they were finally apprehended.

Police today are using the "to make you safer from terrorists" card not to
get caught with their pants down and not to appear stupid or get caught
abusing protesters beyond what was required to control the crowd (the
college kid who was roughed up by the mounted police but were caught on
video showing the kid was not attacking the police).  I am in Denver
working on my property but am hearing how five policemen from a suburban
department have been accussed of abusing some guy and three have since
resigned and the other two are under an internal investigation.  Around
last January the son of a Pueblo, CO detective was roughed up by two
Denver cops when he somehow ticked them off as he came out of a Denver
retaurant but they were also filmed and after initial exoneration, the
investigation has been reopened after protests by the father.

These are the same cops who think they should ban scanners or be allowed
to encrypt their transmissions.  It is the usual "somebody messes up so
punish everybody" mentality.  Scanners keep them honest.  If the cops are
honest and respect rights appropriately, they have nothing to fear.  I
understand there are situations where communications should be kept
confidential but not often and a criminal caught with a scanner, though,
should get additional time.  I have no problem with additional penalties
for use of a scanner in committing a crime.

Ralph Johnson