19 Nov Richmond Council Approves $350,000 for Encrypted Police Radios

(Screenshot captured by Samantha Kennedy / The CC Pulse)

By Samantha Kennedy

Richmond City Council on Tuesday OK’d buying $350,000 worth of encrypted police radios, a move police say will protect officers and privacy but critics say results in a loss of transparency.

The move allows the purchase of 35 encrypted radios in alignment with other agencies that are part of the East Bay Regional Communications System Authority, which has transferred to encrypted communications. 

The Richmond Police Department began operations on encrypted channels on Oct. 7, according to Assistant Chief Tim Simmons. Every Contra Costa law enforcement agency moved to encrypted communication on that day; those in Alameda County later followed suit.

Simmons said the change protects officer safety and personal information. 

“[The encryption] prevents public monitoring of tactical radio traffic,” said Simmons. “People who are listening to where the officers are coming in at, and then there’s counteractivity happening because they’re listening in to where and how officers are coming in.”  

In 2020, the California Department of Justice mandated the protection of personally identifiable information but did not require that communication channels be encrypted. On the federal level, the FBI does require encryption, which Simmons said is another standard RPD is held to. 

Simmons said that encryption is not the only option to comply with the state’s requirements. 

“Our position is that encryption is the best way, the most efficient way and the safest way,” said Simmons. 

He said other options include officers using cell phones or mobile data computers to share sensitive information.

Other agencies have opted to protect personal information in other ways, like the Palo Alto Police Department after it reversed its decision to encrypt communications. 

Critics say RPD and other agencies making the move to encryption marks some loss of transparency with law enforcement.

“It makes it much harder for residents to monitor emergencies and understand how our city is responding,” said Andrew Melendez. “I encourage the council to hopefully continue to explore pathways in the future to provide as much transparent information to the public as possible in regards to radio access.” 

Simmons said that information would still be provided through other channels, such as social media, the public information officer and crime report data online. 

Officials have approved more than 300 encrypted radios in previous years for RPD and Code Enforcement. According to Simmons, encrypted radios for the Community Crisis Response Program, or ROCK, were approved for purchase just this year.