| InterceptRadio.com Forums http://interceptradio.com/bbs/ |
|
| Fort Collins to Encrypt? http://interceptradio.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=6499 |
Page 1 of 1 |
| Author: | MiloMinderbinder [ Tue Nov 06, 2012 4:33 am ] |
| Post subject: | Fort Collins to Encrypt? |
Fort Collins police consider blocking radio traffic to public Posted: 11/06/2012 12:01:00 AM MST Updated: 11/06/2012 12:12:52 AM MST By Ryan Parker The Denver Post Fort Collins police scanner transmissions may soon be silent to public ears. The northern Colorado city still hasn't decided whether to activate an option on its new communication system that allows frequencies to be encrypted. Police Chief John Hutto said if the department does decide to block listening, it will be to protect citizen privacy and keep cops safe. He also said he doesn't think quieting scanner transmissions will complicate communication between Fort Collins police and other law enforcement agencies during big emergencies. But others aren't so sure that is true. Larimer County Sheriff's spokesman John Schulz said the switch could hinder communications among agencies when emergencies arise, such as a wildfire. "That is the reason we haven't made that switch," Schulz said. During the High Park fire in June about 2,000 firefighters from federal and local agencies battled the second-largest fire in state history as it chewed through 87,284 acres west of Fort Collins. Police, deputies, state troopers and firefighters worked together, sharing scanner frequencies, which would be more complex with encrypted channels, Schulz said. "With our system, every single radio needs an encryption key for encrypted channels," Schulz said. "For others to join, they would need that key." The sheriff's department uses three encrypted channels for SWAT, investigations and tactical operations, Schulz said. Should Fort Collins police go forward with the switch, Hutto said not every single channel would be encrypted and other agencies would be able to join those left open. Hutto said the department wants to keep criminals from listening to scanner traffic with smart phone applications and to keep personal information sometimes aired over police frequencies private. "That information can be social security numbers, birth dates and addresses." The department expects to make a decision in the next few months, Hutto said. Fort Collins police have always had the option for total encryption, but it was complicated and not cost effective, Hutto said. But with a newly installed system, encryption is a simple software change. "We can still do a pretty good job of pushing information out there," Hutto said. That push includes further use of social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, for all information pertinent to the public during emergency situations, Hutto said. Other police agencies around the country have made the switch to encrypted channels, and Hutto said those examples would be examined to help avoid potential complications. |
|
| Page 1 of 1 | All times are UTC - 8 hours |
| Copyright © 2013 Interceptradio.com |
|