The Ocean City Police and several other Worcester County law enforcement agencies have officially transitioned to encrypted radio transmissions for all law enforcement activity. The change occurred at 7 a.m. last Friday, March 1.
According to a news release, members of the Ocean City Police Department pride themselves on keeping residents and visitors safe.
Public safety was one of the leading factors in moving to encryption, as identity theft cases are at an all-time high across the county.
According to the National Council on Identity Theft Protection, simple methods, such as traditional identity theft, and more complicated ones like synthetic identity theft, are all increasing. Professionals in the field believe that there is a new victim every 22 seconds.
Law enforcement personnel share sensitive information such as names, social security numbers, driver’s license information, addresses, and criminal histories daily over the radio. When the information was shared before encryption, anyone with a digital scanner could copy it down.
Increases in identity theft were among the factors that led the FBI to update its Criminal Justice Information Services security policy at the end of 2022. The change recommended encryption of any radio communication that includes the transmission of criminal justice information to prevent the dissemination of protected information.
Identity theft is not the only public safety factor, however.
Wait, I thought it was for “officer” safety. Now it’s for “public” safety? Isn’t it really about “image” safety?
This is so they don’t have to have transparency and to stop those auditors from going to scenese and recording their abuse. But they will claim it is for officer safety. Well if cops didn’t beat and abuse people illegally and unlawfully maybe they wouldn’t have people who hate them.
Look at the new COunty Sheriff building, with blast doors and bullet proof windows, Why are they not being installed in the schools for kids, but you all want to yell IT IS FOR THE KIDS when you want more taxes and new schools that make kids more stupid. Then you want to come after rights, when it is a mentally ill person using a gun.
Cmon Jack…..its required to go encrypted, so we are told. Plus all the kool kids are doing so you know the politicially incorrect saying….monkey see monkey do! Its only taxpayer monies…so they say.
Eventually there will be encrypted scanners and that will be that. Too bad all those tips from scanner moms will now go for not. All thats left are some local bar radios and the fire dept…..who soon will go encrypted too.
Only a matter of time before OCPD is hit with a rash of officer misconduct claims. When cops do stiff like this, it’s always about circling the wagons to cover their own asses. It has nothing to do with safety, especially not about civilian safety.
Jack, Jack, Jack “cmon” as your anonymous friend says. It’s clear now you’re either extremely liberal and brain dead or you’re a criminal. Save your thoughts for your out of touch friends. Your rants on here only prove to those of us with a brain who you are and what you’re about. I’m sure you’re mad you had to deal with the justice that was served to you, but just because you thought the law doesn’t apply to you doesn’t make your unlawful actions right now does it?
I know this is “copy and paste” but this might explain a lot.
Why are police radios encrypted?
In 2020, the DOJ notified every police department in the state of a policy update that mandated the transmission of sensitive, personally identifiable information (PII) be encrypted. The mandate aims to protect the privacy and identity of anyone whose information is broadcast over a police radio.Sep 19, 2023