Texas Police Department Secures Radio Calls With Encryption Tech

The Longview Police Department has made a major change in how the officers communicate with each other and dispatch while on duty.

Traditionally police departments utilized analog and digital radios as a way of communicating between dispatch and the officers in the field. Dispatch would direct officers to the scene of the emergency and describe to them the situation that they would soon be facing.

Information regarding the specific call would be dispatched over the radio, information like addresses, names of involved parties, medical information, tactical information along with other sensitive information that members of the public could listen in and monitor on scanner equipment.

Longview Police Department posted on their Facebook page the change that they have adopted new technology and are now utilizing encryption on radio communications.

Why the use of encryption technology in Longview?

The move should enhance public safety according to the statement. The department says this upgrade is necessary to protect the community and combat crime by protecting sensitive information and ensuring first responder security in the field.

The department says careful consideration was taken before making this move. The move would improve officer safety, especially during rapidly changing situations.

In some cases, the department said some suspects would often monitor police channels for information on the situation.

Using radio encryption technology also protects victim and witness privacy by not having their names broadcast over police radio channels.

Also, more accurate information should come from the department's public information officer instead of interpreting what is being heard over a scanner.

Longview residents are concerned over the lack of transparency

Comments from the public have been left on the Longview Police Department's Facebook page indicating there is a concern that using encrypted technology can lead to secrecy within the agency and some wonder just how many criminals are monitoring police channels on a scanner.

I would like to know your thoughts and how you feel about this technology that is being utilized within the Longview Police Department, email me your thoughts. Read the full statement from Longview Police here.