Several reports of burglaries have been coming into us via our Scotts Bluff County Scanner page, by phone, through text and Facebook messenger.
We have received video evidence in several cases, and even some of the criminals have been identified.
Now, we are not sure why, but since the scanner went dark when the County went full encryption May 22, there has been very little media coverage of these recent crimes, some of them major. Why no coverage, why no big cases on the court docket?
The county cites officer safety and criminal activity as the main reasons for full encryption. We argue logically as to why they needed to spend millions of dollars on a new system when they already had encrypted capabilities in full force.
You see, the County has been using an encrypted tactical channel, their WING/SWAT channel, and officer cell phones for SECURE communications for years. Our officers were smart enough to know when not to say something that would jeopardize a case over the unencrypted lines. There was absolutely no reason necessary to go fully encrypted. We believe in officer safety, but we also believe in using what you have, and not spending millions of dollars unnecessarily.
Going totally dark after having a very cooperative community who supports their officers, has now put doubt in the people’s minds.
You now have the public doubting the police.
The public is now wondering why.
The public wants to know, “what are you hiding Scotts Bluff County?”
Please respond to sbcoscanner@gmail.com.
The PEOPLE who elected you would like to hear from you.
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I believe that most officers are not offended by this however it’s doubtful that any of them requested it. I feel it was probably the county/cities spending money so they can justify requesting more grants and raising taxes. This makes it hard for agencies to claim that the public doesn’t help or support them when there is no way for the public to know what or who they are looking for in real time, In the past I personally have contacted law enforcement if I saw someone/something that fit the description of what/who they were looking for. In my opinion leaving citizens in the dark will put officers in more danger and/or make their job more difficult this is a bad move for Scottsbluff County and the cities located within also for Box Butte County if they’re still being dispatched through Gering comm center
We completely agree, Chuck.