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Oak Ridge dispatch switches to encrypted radio system

Posted at 6:48 pm February 6, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge dispatchers and emergency workers switched to a new radio system last week that uses encrypted communications, and access is restricted to public safety employees.

That means that people who have listened to Oak Ridge police and fire communications, among other radio transmissions, on scanners and scanner apps but aren’t public safety employees such as police officers or firefighters will no longer be able to listen. That includes reporters.

“For the safety of our officers, the Police Department does not have any plans at this time to allow access to the radio system beyond public safety employees,” City of Oak Ridge spokesperson Sarah Self said in a brief statement Tuesday, January 29.

The switch was apparently made at about 1 p.m. Monday, January 28. Oak Ridge Today has not heard Oak Ridge dispatchers on the radio since then.

Oak Ridge Today asked what steps the city will take to ensure that people continue to stay informed at least about major police and fire incidents since reporters and the public will no longer be able to listen to emergency communications. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: City of Oak Ridge, decryption, emergency communications, encrypted communications, encrypted radio communications, encrypted radio system, Jim Akagi, Mark Watson, Motorola P25 Mission-Critical Radio System, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge dispatch, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, police and fire communications, police and fire incidents, public safety, Robin Smith, Sarah Self, scanner apps, scanners, Tennessee Valley Regional Communications System, TVRCS

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