[Scan-DC] Baltimore Police moving to encrypt scanner transmissions, keeping public from hearing calls

[Alan Henney]

https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/crime/bs-md-ci-cr-baltimore-police-encrypt-scanner-20200901-qoulpuhz2jg6vboafg23bx235u-story.html



By JUSTIN FENTON
<https://www.baltimoresun.com/bal-justin-fenton-20141007-staff.html#nt=byline>
BALTIMORE SUN |
SEP 01, 2020 AT 7:36 PM
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As part of a planned upgrade of its radio systems, the Baltimore Police
Department is switching to encrypted transmissions, eliminating the ability
for most of the public to listen in.

The preparations were confirmed by City Councilman Yitzy Schleifer, head of
the public safety committee. He said the upgrade has been planned since
last year and was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.
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But officials have not discussed publicly that the new technology would
feature encrypted communications.

Police issued a statement Tuesday night saying: “In following national best
practices, the Baltimore Police Department is working to encrypt it’s
emergency communications channels to protect potential victims and
witnesses, while also enhancing officer safety. We will be providing
equipment to established media outlets, as we work to be transparent while
balancing public safety and privacy.”
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While some smaller sheriff’s offices in Maryland encrypt their
communications, Baltimore Police would become one of the first large
jurisdictions in the state to limit public access to police radio
transmissions.

Hundreds of agencies throughout the country have made the switch, however,
including the Washington, D.C., police department, which began encrypting
its communications in 2011. New Orleans, where Baltimore Police
Commissioner Michael Harrison served as police chief until early 2019,
encrypted its communications system last year.
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Police radios have been public for decades, though in recent years
technology has made the communications easier to access: There are free
apps that stream police transmissions, while others use what they hear to
populate Twitter accounts, like Scan the Police, and apps, like Citizen.

Those pushing to encrypt radio transmissions say it’s necessary to prevent
suspects from listening in on police movements, as well as to prevent the
broadcasting of someone’s personal information. Notably, police already
have secure channels that they can switch to, and officers can often be
heard coordinating to take conversations to their cellphones.

Schleifer said the city is planning to provide radios to the media,
provided that they sign a “memorandum of understanding” that would put some
limitations on what information can be shared. It was unclear whether other
interested individuals or groups would be able to take part as well.

In Colorado, reporters can’t monitor Denver police communications
<https://coloradofoic.org/cfoics-year-in-review-2019-encrypted-police-radios-open-internal-affairs-records-deleted-emails/>
because
the city insists on a purchasing agreement with two provisions deemed
unacceptable by news organizations — one letting city officials examine
newsroom records related to the scanner and another indemnifying the city
if there is a lawsuit related to information from a police radio, according
to the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition.
Justin Fenton
<https://www.baltimoresun.com/bal-justin-fenton-20141007-staff.html#nt=author-bio>
CONTACT
------------------------------
Justin Fenton joined The Sun in 2005 and has covered crime and police
accountability since 2008. He covered the unrest surrounding the death of
Freddie Gray and trials of the officers charged in that case, as well as
the Gun Trace Task Force corruption scandal. His first book is due out in
February 2021 from Random House.