[Scan-DC] More encryption news

Ed Tobias edtobias at comcast.net
Wed Sep 21 09:44:03 EDT 2016 

Didn't Balto City do the same, years ago?

Ed

Sent from my iPhone

> On Sep 21, 2016, at 2:37 AM, P Lepine <lepine15 at comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> In Frederick, Md (the city itself), when they went to encryption, they
> supplied the Frederick news post and I think one radio station with a
> portable so they could continue monitoring.  It remains encrypted for the
> rest of us.
> 
> Paul
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Scan-DC [mailto:scan-dc-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Alan
> Henney
> Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2016 12:30 AM
> To: Scan DC
> Subject: [Scan-DC] More encryption news
> 
> 
> "The chief has talked with the media, that they can monitor it," he said.
> "It just won't be able to be monitored anymore by things like smartphones or
> cellphones."
> 
> 
> Sioux City Journal (Iowa)
> 
> NEWS
> 
> Police: Radio traffic to be encrypted by end of year
> 
> Ian Richardson
> September 19, 2016 Monday
> 
> SIOUX CITY | Radio channels used by local law enforcement and first
> responders will become encrypted by the end of the year, a Sioux City law
> enforcement official said Monday.
> 
> The change will come as local agencies upgrade radio equipment in order to
> join Iowa's statewide radio system by 2017.
> 
> Sioux City Police Capt. Marti Reilly on Monday did not specify a date for
> the change, but he said it has come sooner than expected.
> 
> His comments came after the Sioux City Council voted to fast-track the
> purchase of nearly $2 million in new radio equipment to take advantage of
> available discounts.
> 
> "One of the holdups that we had before was we would have to buy additional
> equipment," Reilly said. "Now, we can touch the (new) radios once and
> encrypt the whole network."
> 
> Currently, the police department encrypts two channels -- one for tactical
> purposes and the other for information.
> 
> Sioux City Police Chief Doug Young first told the Journal in March that
> local law enforcement were considering encryption to help catch criminals on
> the run, saying some suspects use police radio apps on their smartphones to
> evade them.
> 
> Young and Woodbury County Sheriff Dave Drew told media in April they would
> consider programming radios for the media to allow outlets to continue to
> report breaking news.
> 
> Reilly said police are continuing talks with the media to ensure it has
> access to scanner traffic in order to report on breaking news.
> 
> "The chief has talked with the media, that they can monitor it," he said.
> "It just won't be able to be monitored anymore by things like smartphones or
> cellphones."
> 
> The city's approval of the new radio equipment Monday was driven by a need
> to prevent local agencies' equipment from becoming obsolete.
> 
> The radio software currently used by Siouxland Tri-State Area Radio
> Communications, or STARCOMM, was to no longer be supported by Motorola, the
> equipment's manufacturer, after 2018.
> 
> The purchase of new equipment was originally slated to be made over the next
> two fiscal years, but local officials requested the city move up the full
> purchase this year to take advantage of a lower price. Savings totaled
> nearly $150,000.
> 
> The equipment will cost the city just under $2 million and will be funded by
> traffic camera revenue.
> 
> Now, Reilly said, the change will be complete within a couple months.
> 
> "We hope to have the radios in our officers' hands, our firefighters and our
> ambulance technicians' hands, this year," he said.
> 
> Councilman Pete Groetken, who served as a Sioux City police officer for
> nearly 38 years, said Monday he was glad to see the equipment upgraded.
> 
> "It's important that the radio systems are top-notch and that they are ready
> to be used at a moment's notice for any emergency that may come up,"
> Groetken said.
> 
> Upgrades to the radios, as well as others at STARCOMM tower sites, will help
> the system become compatible with Iowa's statewide interoperable
> communication system, which allows Iowa agencies to communicate each other
> as needed.
> 
> The system, signed into law by Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad in May, will cost
> the state $58 million to build out over multiple years and will initially be
> paid for by a surcharge on mobile phones.
> 
> Sioux City will be among the first to join the system, Reilly said, along
> with Westcom, a central Iowa radio system based in West Des Moines.
> 
> Reilly said the statewide system will be advantageous in allowing local
> agencies to communicate directly with any state units in the area, which
> will come in handy during large events.
> 
> The push for the system came following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New
> York City, where police, firefighters and emergency responders could not
> communicate with each other.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> New Hampshire Union Leader (Manchester)
> 
> PAGE1; Pg. 1
> 
> Nothing 'nefarious' behind city radio silence
> 
> MARK HAYWARD New Hampshire Union Leader
> 15 September 2016
> 
> Police calls encrypted: Officer safety, privacy concerns cited in Manchester
> department's recent change.
> 
> MANCHESTER -- Manchester police acknowledged Wednesday that they recently
> began encrypting all police radio transmissions, putting police
> communication outside the prying ears of reporters and everyday people with
> a scanner or smart-phone app.
> 
> Police issued an unsigned statement early Wednesday afternoon, as complaints
> grew about muted police radio scanners over the last several days.
> 
> Two weeks ago, Manchester police plugged into the city's new, debt-funded
> $5.8 million emergency radio system, a Motorola APX7000L. The encryption
> began Friday, Assistant Police Chief Carlo Capano said.
> 
> Police said encryption helps to keep police officers safe and protects the
> privacy of citizens.
> 
> "We can assure you that our decision had absolutely nothing to do with
> trying to hide any type of nefarious activity," the four-paragraph statement
> reads. "Our reasons ... (are) to provide an updated radio system, protect
> the public's privacy, and protect our officers as they work day in and day
> out to provide a service for the city of Manchester."
> 
> But the move to encrypt police radio transmissions has raised the concern of
> media, social media and freelance journalists. Media outlets often rely on
> radio broadcasts to arrive at a crime scene or accident on a timely basis.
> 
> Jeff Hastings, a freelance photographer and videographer, said he
> understands that sensitive activity, such as a SWAT operation, a homicide or
> mental health matter, should be confidential.
> 
> "In our opinion, hearing everyday calls adds a level of transparency and
> accountability," Hastings wrote in an open letter. "As journalists and
> providers of information, we are now reduced 100 percent to what MPD wants
> to tell us."
> 
> In an email, Capano said Manchester aldermen and the Police Commission are
> aware of the decision to encrypt the radio.
> 
> The encryption was made possible with the implementation of the new
> emergency radio system, police said in the statement.
> 
> Both the new and previous systems offered the ability for police to encrypt
> a broadcast whenever they deemed it necessary. But poor sound quality and
> reception prevented frequent use of encrypted broadcasts with the previous
> system, police said.
> 
> The statement offers three reasons for encryption:
> 
> o Privacy. "When we transmit a medical call, a criminal check, a juvenile or
> adult name that may be a victim to a crime, that information and identity
> should be protected," the statement reads.
> 
> o Officer safety. "Given the national narrative regarding police officers
> and the attacks on them, this was an important factor in our decision," the
> statement reads.
> 
> o Monitoring. In the statement, police said that some people follow officers
> around and interfere with their job. Police Commissioner Mark Roy noted that
> "anti-police organizations and others that may not want to do the right
> thing" can trace police on scanners.
> 
> Roy said police, firefighters and paramedics were recently at Valley and Elm
> streets and shots were fired in their direction. The shooter could have
> learned of their location through a scanner, said Roy, who added that the
> encryption affects him, too.
> 
> "My very expensive, programmed Radio Shack scanner is totally useless," Roy
> said.
> 
> Alderman Thomas Katsiantonis, the chairman of the Public Safety Committee,
> said he remembers discussions about the new emergency radio system, but
> can't recall whether encryption was part of it.
> 
> If that's what Police Chief Nick Willard wants, Katsiantonis supports it, he
> said.
> 
> He noted that last June, a panic ensued when parents heard, apparently
> through scanners, about a supposed gun in the trunk of a car parked at
> Memorial High School. It turned out to be an Airsoft gun.
> 
> "All the parents were upset and crying. They heard it on Facebook. It was
> crazy, crazy," Katsiantonis said. "This is better for the safety of the
> people."
> 
> Chris Blue, an electronics system technician with the city, said the new P25
> trunk system complies with national standards to make all police radios
> compatible. It also eliminates dead spots in the city.
> 
> The system includes two new towers, 1,429 radios and software, he said.
> 
> He said some other city departments such as buses, Water Works and the
> Highway Department, are already on the new system. Fire and Ambulance join
> early next month. None will be encrypted.
> 
> "It never even crossed my mind to close our system. We're, I guess, a
> different organization," said Fire Chief Dan Goonan.
> 
> Blue said it is not possible for citizens to circumvent the encryption.
> 
> "What we have is the highest level of encryption made," Blue said. "This is
> what the military uses, the FBI, the DEA."
> 
> mhayward at unionleader.com
> 
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