Chico police scanners will soon be encrypted | News

CHICO, California. – The Chico Police Department will soon encrypt its radio communications system.

This means that owners of commercial scanners or smartphone scanner apps can no longer listen in.

In 2020, the California Department of Justice issued a mandate for law enforcement to encrypt at least one communication line to protect sensitive data, including the names and ages of victims, suspects and witnesses, as well as details that could impact an investigation.

Chico police plan to encrypt their main line. The Butte County Sheriff’s Office is doing the same.

The Corning and Red Bluff police departments have not yet encrypted their radios.

The Redding Police Department’s main channel is not encrypted, but encrypted channels are used to transmit confidential information.

“We’re a busy agency and Chico has a pretty high profile in this area, so it’s important that we comply with this mandate. I’m sure other agencies will follow suit as this movement spreads across the state,” said Lieutenant Brian Miller of the Chico Police Department.

Miller said that due to limited staffing, Chico police generally operate only one channel.

He said using multiple communication channels is dangerous because it cuts off the responding officer from communicating with the rest of the team.

There have been efforts in the state parliament to pass laws that would abolish the encryption requirement, but so far the legislation has failed.