By JONATHAN SNYDER
With a recent law prohibiting sensitive personal information being shared over police scanners, Wells County is seeking funding to purchase new radios that can encrypt radio frequencies.
911 Dispatch Center Director Mike Miller stated that date of births, juvenile names and social security numbers can not be broadcast this way.
An official request for matching grant funding has not been sent in to the Northeast Indiana Strategic Development Commission yet, as both county and city are determining their matching funds.
This need comes alongside the 911 Dispatch Center’s desire to add a fourth radio console. Miller stated they have everything they need to install the console, except for the radio itself. However, the department must replace all new consoles to keep everything on the same system.
“They (the provider) will not allow us to add a newer radio to the existing radios that we have, because they operate differently,” Miller said. “In order for us to add the fourth radio console, we have to replace all of our radio consoles, which also includes one that is used at the Sheriff’s Department, because they’re all on the same system. In the process of doing that, then we will make sure that those new radios are encrypted, so that we’re in compliance with what we need to be in compliance with, as far as the law goes.”
The new radios cost approximately $80,000 each, according to Miller. Wells County Council member Seth Whicker said upfitting the radios with encryption adds another $500 per radio. Whicker stated one channel would be dedicated to encryption, adding that the city and county would pay $125,000 each and $750,000 could be paid through grants.
Whicker emphasized that this is meant to be only for private information.
“People need to have open access to that (radio), I know some people will say, ‘Oh, the government’s trying to block us.’ No, what we have to start to do is (consider) what’s private with that individual. I know I wouldn’t want my Social Security number over the airways.” Whicker said.
Miller added, “Not having this is not keeping us from doing our job at all. It’s just something that we have to do by law. It would be very hard to do it without having at least an encrypted channel, because we don’t want somebody accidentally saying something that they shouldn’t.”
jonathan@news-banner.com
