[Scan-DC] Scanner encryption: Protecting police or skirting public records laws?

Sat Mar 22 21:22:55 EDT 2014

Re: Alan Henneys post about the article in The Port City Daily. I have heard
a lot about the potential for criminals to monitor police frequencies in
conjunction with committing crimes, but have seen little to no empirical
evidence of this. I have listened to "scanners" for the last 40 years, and
see more good than harm in non-encryption of dispatch (non-tactical)
channels. The "sunshine" provided to the public as to what the police do to
protect them and the actual perils faced on a daily basis is invaluable to
the continued support of the public safety sector. Perhaps the best argument
against encryption of dispatch channels is the "more eyes" argument. As I
have pointed out before, I personally have reported the location of two
wanted (BOLO) suspects to the police as a direct result of listening to the
scanner. The recent interest in locating the Amber Alert suspect driving the
purple Freightliner in Virginia is an example of the usefulness of the
dissemination of BOLO information. The monitoring of police traffic by the
general public gives the police a real time (instant) increase in the
effectiveness of a BOLO. I argue that these benefits outweigh any potential
harm. I am not opposed in any way to the use of digitally encrypted tactical
channels for sensitive information transmission.

Earl Suitor 
Berryville, VA
Former firefighter, paramedic, and police dispatcher.

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Today's Topics:

   1. NWS Skywarn Net Control Operator Class - 24 May (Paul - W4ATN)
   2. Scanner encryption: Protecting police or skirting public
      records laws? (Alan Henney)
   3. Re: Scanner encryption: Protecting police or skirting	public
      records laws? (Scott, KB3JQQ)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2014 14:28:47 -0400
From: "Paul - W4ATN" <Paul at W4ATN.com>
Cc: Paul.Bowling at PGCountyREACT.org
Subject: [Scan-DC] NWS Skywarn Net Control Operator Class - 24 May
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="iso-8859-1"

There will be a Skywarn Net Control operator?s class in May details:

Class: Skywarn Net Control Operator

Date: Saturday, 24 May

Time: 09:00 ? 12:00

Location: Prince George?s Fire Services Building, 6820 Webster Street,
Landover Hills, MD 20784

Contact: Paul Bowling, Paul at W4ATN.com <mailto:Paul at W4ATN.com>  410-353-9196

Register: https://pgskywarnncs140524.eventbrite.com

Details

Net Control (0-5 per year in our forecast area) (I?ve been told by one of
the Net Control Operators in Anne Arundel County this course hasn?t been
offered for at least 3 years ? PB).

The Net Control class is for HAM radio operators who are interested in
becoming Skywarn Net Control Operators for the SKYWARN amateur radio program
for the NWS Baltimore/Washington Forecast Office (in Sterling VA) region.
Basics I is a prerequisite for this class.  

Net Control includes:

*  Basics on the SKYWARN amateur radio program and organizational structure

*  The Network, subnets, and specs

*  Modes of operation of the SKYWARN amateur radio program

*  How to operate the Net Control position

*  Extended discussion of what the NWS is looking for in terms of reports,
and how to work with spotters to get well-formed and accurate reports

Lead Instructor: Tom Horne, W3TDH MOE?8, Assistant Coordinator for Net
Management, National Capitol Area Skywarn.

Please pass this along to other hams and organizations that you think may be
interested.

Looking forward to see you at the class on the 24th of May

Paul ? W4ATN

------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 01:34:16 -0400
From: "Alan Henney" <alan at henney.com>
To: "Scan DC" <Scan-DC at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [Scan-DC] Scanner encryption: Protecting police or skirting
	public	records laws?
Message-ID: <D31E337C79DF410AAD017416D511A842 at HPCompaqPro6300>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="iso-8859-1"

Scanner encryption: Protecting police or skirting public records laws?

Port City Daily

http://portcitydaily.com/?p=67863

------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 06:01:45 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Scott, KB3JQQ" <kb3jqq at yahoo.com>
To: Scan DC <Scan-DC at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [Scan-DC] Scanner encryption: Protecting police or
	skirting	public	records laws?
Message-ID:
	<1395493305.62155.YahooMailNeo at web125003.mail.ne1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Personally, I think online scanning and scanner apps should be banned.
If you want to listen, buy a scanner. I'd hate to have my investment in
scanners to become obsolete because of dummies.

________________________________
 From: Alan Henney <alan at henney.com>

Scanner encryption: Protecting police or skirting public records laws?

Port City Daily

http://portcitydaily.com/?p=67863
______________________________________________________________

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