[Scan-DC] St. Mary's Co. Sheriff: Radio Encryption Necessary

[Alan Henney]

The County Times (Hollywood, Maryland)

August 29, 2013

Sheriff: Radio Encryption Necessary

BYLINE: Guy Leonard Staff Writer

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 8

LENGTH: 372 words

After receiving complaints about government and police transparency of operations, Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron said the county's move to switch virtually all police communications to encrypted channels was a necessary one to protect citizens' personal information and tactics and evidence used in investigations. 

"It wasn't just about how people [criminal elements] can get apps and information access on the Internet," Cameron told The County Times. "It was also about the amount of sensitive information we transmit over our radios." When deputies relay information about

they often talk about witnesses, evidence and victim information, which can be sensitive to investigations, Cameron said.

"These are what I term vulnerabilities in the open air system," Cameron said.

Open air police channels have been a mainstay for media and other civilians to keep abreast of police activities for decades and Cameron said the agency has still kept one, countywide frequency open to the public so they can talk in the clear

or missing person incidents that may have just occurred.

Having that one public channel open will allow the public to keep informed of wanted persons police are looking for, Cameron said, and even know to provide information to police if they have any knowledge.

Cameron said he and the agency are also considering making available a service to residents that would send them text messages of computer aided dispatch (CAD) calls that originate in the county's emer-r gency operations center.

Despite the concerns of law enforcement, some citizens say the encryption of

thwarting government transparency.

The scanners went off line when the county switched over police communications to digital service from analog several weeks ago.

traditional balance of power in American society between the people and their government," wrote Aaron Giles of Leonar-r dtown to the Board of County Commissioners. "Full-time radio encryption is an overreach by law enforcement that should be immediately checked by the Board of [County] Commissioners by establishing a policy that all routine public safety and public service communications on the county's new radio system be open to reception by the public."

guyleonard at countytimes.net