City Council
MEETING DATE: 1/10/2018
TITLE:
Title
ERICA Regional Radio System
End
FROM:
Charlie McClendon, City Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
This item is provided for information, discussion and direction only.
Body
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
Attached is a document "Considerations for Encryption in Public Safety Radio Systems" prepared by the Federal Partnership for Interoperable Communications. It provides additional examples of concerns with the public's access, including media access, to critical information transmitted over the airwaves.
There are other avenues available to the media and others to access information, to which they are entitled under the Public Records Act.
The TAC is recommending that the ERICA board reconsider its policy regarding media access to encrypted radio traffic. Mayor Henry is Cathedral City's representative on the Board and he asked for the opportunity to receive feedback from Council prior to casting his vote, which will likely occur on January 11, 2018.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
ATTACHMENTS:
Considerations for Encryption in Public Safety Radio Systems