[Scan-DC] Debate Over Police Radio Encryption Continues

[Alan Henney]

The County Times (Hollywood, Maryland)

September 19, 2013

Debate Over Police Radio Encryption Continues

BYLINE: Guy Leonard, STAFF WRITER

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 4

LENGTH: 328 words

County Commissioner Daniel Morris (R-Mechanicsville) told other commissioners at Tuesday's regular county government meeting that he continues to hear opposition to the recent move to encrypt county police channels from public access. 

Morris voiced his own personal opposition to the practice and asked his colleagues on the board to consider supporting an employee survey of how well the practice is working.

"There are some issues, some concerns with this," Morris said. "The citizens deserve to have the opportunity to hear this [police radio transmissions.]

"I've heard many, many inquiries and they're [residents] not happy."

The switch to encrypt all but one channel of police communications occurred several weeks ago when the county switched to a digital system from the old analog design used for years.

Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron has fully supported encryption because it protects information vital to police investigations such as witness and victim names and locations as well as serves to keep suspects who may be listening on their own scanners in the dark as to what police know about their involvement in crimes.

Others have said that police communications are public information and as such should not be kept in secret.

Commissioner Todd Morgan (R-Lexington Park) said the decision to approve the switch to encrypted channels was made by the commissioner board with full disclosure from the county sheriff's office and staff overseeing the process.

"We approved it, they did it and now some people are upset," Morgan said. "I haven't heard a lot of people complain about encryption."

Morgan said he approved of the idea because the benefits to law enforcement and society in general outweighed the interests who had traditionally listened in on the police bands.

"There's good guys who listen to the police radio and there are bad guys who listen to the police radio and I'll bet there are a lot more bad people listening in."

guyleonard at countytimes.net