CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The Cedar Rapids Fire Department has now joined law enforcement in Linn County and other parts of Iowa in blocking out the public from listening to its emergency radio communications.
In a notice sent out late Monday night, the Cedar Rapids Fire Department announced it would start encrypting its scanner radio traffic the next day, effectively blocking members of the public from being able to hear the communication.
Linn County law enforcement, including the Linn County Sheriff and Cedar Rapids Police Department, moved to encrypted radio traffic in 2017 citing concerns for officer safety and privacy concerns for crime victims. Cedar Rapids Fire Chief Greg Smith cited similar concerns in saying that encrypted radios would enhance emergency communication…