City Council
MEETING DATE: 1/10/2018
TITLE:
Title
ERICA Regional Radio System
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FROM:
Charlie McClendon, City Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
This item is provided for information, discussion and direction only.
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BACKGROUND:
Since 2010, Cathedral City has been part of the Eastern Riverside Interoperable Communications Authority or ERICA. The digital system gives public safety personnel increased radio coverage and the ability to talk with officers from neighboring cities. ERICA transmissions are encrypted to protect the safety of personnel in the field and to protect the confidential nature of some public safety communications. News media outlets have had access to ERICA transmissions through the purchase of radio consolettes from which media staff are permitted to monitor all police communication over the ERICA system, including highly sensitive encrypted communications.
DISCUSSION:
Recently the ERICA Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) has been discussing the growing concern regarding law enforcement's obligation to protect certain private information and also the safety of law enforcement officers and the public when media have unbridled access to such sensitive information. Recently, during a member agency's SWAT ream response to a highly dangerous criminal /event, it was reported that media responded to the scene before officers were able to arrive. Other concerns raised by the TAC include:
-During the San Bernardino terror attack in 2015, members of the media arrived at the suspect's home before law enforcement; it is believed that the media learned the location after monitoring radio traffic
-HIPPA concerns - Welfare and Institutions Code section 5150 and AIDS and Hepatitis information is relayed on the radio
-Criminal history is relayed on the radio for officer safety which may be subject to confidentiality laws
-Juvenile information
-Sex crimes and assault victims and others with rights to privacy
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