It will eliminate gaps in the current system that are caused by hilly terrain in rural areas. The only agency that won't will be the Millcreek Police Department, which operates its own dispatching center.Ĭounty officials believe the project, known as the Next Generation Public Safety Radio System, will significantly improve the ability of public safety forces to communicate within their own ranks and with other agencies, including those outside Erie County. The Erie, Edinboro, Albion, Corry, North East, Lawrence Park, Union City, Lake City, Wesleyville and Girard police departments will be included in the change. The decision to encrypt radio transmissions applies only to law enforcement and not to fire departments, ambulance companies and other first responders. We are communicating sensitive information."Įncryption will cost county government $439,768, according to cost breakdowns of mobile and portable equipment purchased for the project. Their position is, simply, that it's inherently dangerous to law enforcement and the community. "Now there are apps that you can download to your smartphone and monitor all that day-to-day activity. "At one time you could purchase a Bearcat scanner from RadioShack," Grappy said. "Law enforcement expressed the desire to have all of their communications encrypted," said John Grappy, director of the Erie County Department of Public Safety. That's because the Erie County Department of Public Safety, in consultation with local police departments, will encrypt the radio frequencies on which those agencies will operate. News media outlets and scanner enthusiasts like Terry Hosack, who for years have monitored radio communications in real time, will no longer hear the radio chatter of local law enforcement when they're dispatched to crime scenes, car crashes and other emergencies.
When it does, portions of the new system will also go silent for the public and the news media. Erie County's $26.5 million, taxpayer-funded public safety radio project will go live in coming months.
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