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Tacoma Police “freeing up” radio traffic for public
Posted: 04/01/2013 12:01:00 AM PST

By Charles U. Farley
The Tacoma Insider

Pierce County police scanner transmissions will soon be open to public ears…and scrutiny.

Pierce County’s largest city has decided to activate an option on their communication system that allows frequencies to be publically accessible.

Steve Tyler, with Tacoma’s Information Technology Department, said the switch, while popular among patrol officers and the public alike, could hinder communications among agencies when emergencies arise, citing such examples as a runaway hippo from the Point Defiance Zoo.

"That is the reason we’ve hesitated to make that switch," Tyler said.

"Also, with our system, every single radio needs an encryption key for channels," Tyler said. "To make things public, we have to find all those keys and the locks on the radios. I’m not even sure what those locks look like."

When Tacoma goes forward with the switch, Tyler said not every single channel would be decrypted. He said the city wants to enable citizens to listen to scanner traffic with smart phone applications, but with some very small limitations. “Obviously, we want to keep people in the loop, but they don’t need to be listening to things like the city’s garbage trucks…We’re keeping that radio traffic private.”

The department expects to make a decision in the next few hours, Tyler said.

Tim Link with the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management, which helps manage the radios, released a statement that the switch from a digitally-encrypted radio system to an “analog, open” system would take effect this evening.

Tacoma police have been mostly encrypted for years, but it was overly complicated and not cost effective, Link said. But with the current system, decryption is relatively simple. “We have a large key ring, a lot of people and since we’re a County agency, limitless funds”.

He also said he doesn't think opening scanner transmissions to the public will complicate communication between Tacoma police and other law enforcement agencies during emergencies.
Insider staff attempted to contact Mr. Link for further elaboration, but a staff member that answered the phone in his office said Link was missing.

Insider staff contributed to this report.

That Chuck Farley, he's really on the ball, I tell you!

FYI, the Insider published a correction this afternoon to the effect that Mr. Tyler actually works in Tacoma's Information Technology Section, not department. I don't see the relevance, but...

FYI I have the system and encryption keys if anyone wants them. Please bring your own bucket, however:

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President-in-Exile, Seattle Area Radio Communications And Scanner Traffic Intercept Crew (SARCASTIC)
Don't feel bad if you can't use your STD100/200; there are still people using Digital Frequency Search!
Bunnery definition for the under-fives

I think I see one that will fit my scanner! You didn't mix them back up did you?? :twisted:

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"A well regulated breakfast, being necessary to the healthy start of the day, the right of the people to keep and eat food shall not be infringed."

I have been looking all over for that bent cut off bolt. :shock:

Thanks for finding it for me.

If you find the $1000 bill I misplaced I would be very happy. I'll split it with you.

It has a picture of Grover Cleveland on the front and it and says "One Thousand Dollars" on the reverse. :mrgreen:

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" SILENCE IS CONSENT "

Jim N7UAP - Bellingham, WA / InterceptRadio.com

I hear the universal /\/\ key is 2135, you should try that..

:lol:

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Oh! Come and see the violence inherent in the system! Help, help, I'm being repressed!