The "racial justice" demands pretend that racial injustice is a significant issue in Palo Alto.

It is not. These demands are simply a way to attempt to hobble the police in their basic function to protect the community from criminals. To protect the community, it is necessary to encrypt these communications to prevent criminals from using internal police information. Full stop.

This is not a question of "transparency," unless by "transparency" the activists mean letting the criminals know what the police are doing IN REAL TIME. The PAPD is entirely correct that these communications need to be encrypted, for both the efficiency of their work and the safety of all of us. As the police departments throughout the county are doing.

Thank you Barron Parker Too, that's exactly where it's at. Your comments are spot on. Much appreciated.

Encrypted PD frequencies should not be a public outcry issue.

The only ones that listen to PD dispatches are most likely crooks and boring old
people with scanners who have nothing better to do with their time.

Encrypted PD frequencies mean that we lose the one piece of transparency we had. I don't listen, but reporters do, and that's part of how we know what happens around here. Given the serious problems the PAPD has with racism and excessive use of force, I'd prefer as much transparency as possible.

Actually, the news media also watches police radio, so I think there is legitimate concern about transparency. They need to make real progress on how they are going to make ALL radio communication available to the public in a timely way, especially when complaints are made against the department.

We arm officer and give them a lot of authority in our community. While the vast majority of officers conduct themselves with professionalism and good intent, there are bad eggs in any field. We have a responsibility to monitor how authority and power is used by the officers to whom we, the people, have given it.

Streaming communications online (perhaps with a modest delay such as 30 minutes or an hour to minimize usefulness to crooks) sounds like a good workaround.

Not only are there critical access to information and transparency issues at stake here, but also First Amendment concerns.

Council must reverse Jonsen’s unilateral overreach and adopt a less onerous solution - there is too much to lose.

Chief Jonsen needs to be clear that no one elected him to make policy for the city. In a democracy, police don’t do that.

#"Chief Jonsen needs to be clear that no one elected him to make policy for the city. In a democracy, police don’t do that."

Concurring...only in a police state or despotic dictatorship.

The PAPD answers to the public, not the other way around.

"IN REAL TIME. The PAPD is entirely correct that these communications need to be encrypted, for both the efficiency of their work and the safety of all of us."


Along with providing a convenient blanket for cover-ups and the avoidance of full accountability for unwarranted police actions.

Never trust the police.

This is so much nonsense. Each actor here is playing a game.

The "social justice" activists live to convince people that racism
is the foundation of our society, that we are all racists, and the
police are the villains at the center of the rot. Anything that
interferes with the police is "anti-racist" and therefore necessary.

The PA Online editor and ambulance-chasing lawyers want immediate
access to accidents, where they can report on injuries or recruit
the injured.

This should not be an issue. The police understand what is necessary
to do their job, which is to protect the community from criminals.
And to protect the community, it is necessary to encrypt these
communications to prevent criminals from using internal police information.

This is not a question of "transparency," unless by "transparency"
is meant letting the criminals know what the police are doing IN REAL TIME.
The Palo Alto Police Department is entirely correct that these communications
need to be encrypted, for both the efficiency of their work and the safety of all of us.
Just as the police departments throughout the county fortunately, are doing.

Once again, Barron Parker Too, thank you.

*Once again, Barron Parker Too, thank you.

Yes. Thank you for your vigilence and continued support!

Aloha and Kojak sends his regards.

<> The police understand what is necessary to do their job,

To presume ALL suspects guilty until proven innocent, shoot first and ask questions later and/or let their K-9s attack innocent people at random.

Very reassuring to the public.