[Scan-DC] ALEXANDRIA SCANNERS

[Samuel C. Dixon]

Not to say that I agree with Alexandria but from someone on the street its
not like the ol' days.  I have seen so many "customers" who had the scanner
apps on their iPhones or Blackberries that never would have had the
technical knowledge to program or scanner.  I am not an advocate of full
time encryption and actually work for an agency that uses almost none with
the exception of SWAT and some investigative functions.   I would submit to
you that most of the officers out there that want encryption want it because
they believe it will improve officer safety not to hide something.  Yes
Ralph you are right the minority of officers that act stupid would like it
to be able to hide but that is not the main stream.  Most officers are aware
the media is listening and could care less because they aren't doing
anything shady.  They also know that defense attorney's subpoena radio
traffic which would not stop because of encryption.  I would just suggest
that whether you agree with the city or not that you not jump to conclusions
about their motives. 

  
-----Original Message-----
From: scan-dc-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:scan-dc-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of johnson at cpcug.org
Sent: Friday, September 03, 2010 9:49 PM
To: Scan-DC at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Scan-DC] ALEXANDRIA SCANNERS

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



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