So why can I listen to Chicago or New York or LA or any other major city. From listening to the calls that go out their officers are in a lot more danger on a regular basis than an officer around here. Not to take anything away from the job they do but I can listen to 10 minutes of the Chicago scanner on a friday night and hear about an armed robbery, or two, kids firing guns at a house, and a husband beating his wife to death while she dialed 911 and put the phone down. There is nothing wrong with the scanner being listened to. Its been alright for this long why stop it now.

It has never been alright. There are too many instances of people listening to scanners to know when the police are on their way only to be able to leave the scene before the police can get there. I think it's about time we give the advantage to the police so they can do the job we pay them for. The military need secrecy to achieve their success, so do the police and scanners take away that edge that can make the difference between an arrest and nobody there when the police arrive.

Another reason for municipalities beyond safety is to eliminate malicious use of radios. Many radios are able to be purchased off sites like eBay that can be programmed to interfere with police/fire/ems agencies, simply because they use older analog radio systems. By going digital or encrypted, interference becomes minimal, and people being able to maliciously transmit on public safety frequencies is eliminated.

Ok, so you encrypt the radios so the criminals cant listen in. Do you give these radios to reporters so they can listen? Is there a reason to take them away from them?

I'd like to see proof that criminals are using radios to know when police are coming. Except the bank robbers we see in MOVIES I've never heard of anyone using radios to know when police are on the way. Whens the last well planned out bank robbery (ie The Town) we had around here. The last thing I heard of was the prescription pill robbery from Eli Lilly warehouse in Enfield. From the sounds of it those people had no chance of getting caught anyway, true professionals. Anyway, I'd like to see proof that this is anything more than an attempt at less transparency.

And Rich, the military does not need secrecy they only feel they deserve it so thats that, we have no say.

Digital communications may be mandated federally but there is no requirement to encrypt. Hypothetical examples of benefit to criminals can be matched by hypothetical examples of listeners assisting police services or fellow citizens. Let's abandon "knowledge is power" for "knowlegde is strength", as we believed until a few decades ago.

Mr Kendzior, you or Chief Cossette werent available for comment before the storm which is understandable. Well I dont think Cossette has been available for comment for a while now but whats going on here? Why is this necessary? As Mr. Benoit said for every hypothetical for the is another against. This appears to be nothing more than an attempt to keep the public out of the loop and limit their knowledge of police action to what the police feel is necessary. I think its obvious that left up to their own devices the administrative side of the police department fails time and time again. Please explain this.

No Justice No Peace. Meriden will be another Hartford soon. You can only push people so much before they start pushing back. PD will get out of hand (already almost there) and then the community will smack them back in place.

Thats when they put on the Darth Vader masks and get out the LRAD. "We are here to protect you....from yourselves" Does Meriden have an LRAD yet?

I'm hoping to find some police scanner listeners in the city for an article on this issue. Anyone who might see this, please contact me at (203) 317-2275 or divers@record-journal.com

Dan Ivers
Record-Journal

Goes to show, they do not care about their already tarnished image. Hide hide hide all you want, we have technology out here and are still (but for how long) guaranteed the right to chose in video taping what transpires. Oh the land of the free......free for public paid servants to do anything they want so the general public can not be kept informed.

Hmm theres a non emergency line, wonder what would happen if we called and asked, in accord with the Freedom of INformation Act of course, what the sirens are sounded for, where are the police going, what are the police investigating. Seee theres always a way around everything. Won't be abusing the 911 system either.....but I'll let someone else test that theory out.......I wouldn't want to get arrested on some trumped up charge and have my formal complaint go unfounded due to Internal Affairs lack of legal procedure or following of

Unfortunately for the good cops out there i think its time we take action. I will start filming every police action i possibly can. I would like to make copies of a series of movies called Police State and start handing them out to citizens outside city hall and at public events.

This content is currently blocked. The content is either under review by SeeClickFix or has been confirmed by SeeClickFix for violation(s) of SeeClickFix Terms of Use (https://www.civicplus.com/terms-of-service). Content that aligns with SeeClickFix Terms of Use will be posted, and content that does not align with our Terms of Use will not be permitted for public viewing.

No nothing for the Citizens of Meriden. No large item pickup like other towns, no freedom of knowing where crimes are being committed now. Why are we paying taxes to keep these people employed? Seems taxes simply are funnel to pet projects, schools so vain parents can say "my child goes there" for four years, no help in disaster cleanup, nothing to help those who pay taxes to keep these people with a paycheck. Getting to feel like its every person for themselves here in Meriden. Is no wonder so many signs on lawns of homes for sale pop up each and everyday....mine will be next if I don't see tax dollars benefiting the general public. Heck, its obvious dollars are not spent on City Maintenance, just look at our roadways left to deteriorate year after year, where is the money going...........oh yeah, to shut down police scanner signal. I don't own a plane yet my tax dollars are funneled to maintain the small airport (so I have heard), what good is that airport to the whole community, it seems it only serves those who have planes. City of Meriden elected officials.....what are you really doing, what is it you wish to hide from the people who pay your salaries? If my mom were still in CT (smart woman escaped from tax me to death CT) I'd nominate her for City Manager. She raised 9 children on a very tight budget, no allowance if chores were not done (small change but we were taught the value of a dollar), and she made sure bills were paid and knew the frills in life are not always necessary.

Wonder how many officers will give out that special code to family and friends so they can listen in. Sooner or later, loose lips sink ships and we'll all have them if officers do give the codes to others

Does anyone know why there were two patrol cars, unattended, yesterday (Saturday) at Village Mart at Hanover & S Main. It was quite an extended stay there for some reason

Hi all,

SeeClickFix serves as a platform where citizens can report specific non-emergency issues and engage in constructive conversation that focuses on the identification, prioritization, and ultimate resolution of problems in the public space (graffiti, damaged infrastructure, clogged storm drains, etc). This issue, however, does not seem like it can be easily resolved through our site and would benefit from being discussed through alternative means. Have you thought about submitting an op-ed (or letter to the editor) to your local newspaper about this issue? Similarly, have you reached out to the police department directly? We've archived this issue and it will be closed for further comments. If you have any additional questions, please email contact@seeclickfix.com.

Best,
Megan