NYPD extends radio encryption to Staten Island, blocking public and media access

The NYPD began encrypting police radio transmissions in Staten Island on Thursday, thereby blocking the public and media from listening to radio transmissions.

The move to block the public from listening to NYPD police radio on Staten Island—through encryption—represents a continuation of a policy that began in July, when several precincts in Brooklyn went silent. In its latest round, radio transmissions have been encrypted across the four Staten Island precincts including the 123, 122, 121 and 120.

The move to start encrypting calls began last year after the public and press had access to police radio chatter for 90 years. The NYPD says that it has decided to encrypt its radio transmissions as a means to keep “the bad guys” from listening to its communications. The news industry, however, argues that it will lose access to vital information that is used to keep the public informed about crime and major incidents.

Eight local, state and federal press organizations, led by the New York Media Consortium, have been waging a campaign to compel the NYPD to provide access to police communications, but have received only tacit assurances from officials that access “would be explored after encryption is completed in 2025.” In the meantime, areas of Brooklyn and the entire borough of Staten Island will be silent in terms of radio transmissions, with police news primarily controlled by the NYPD or obtained through questionable social media sources.

The NYPD issued a statement regarding the implementation of the Staten Island encryption policy.

“Currently Staten Island radio zones are being upgraded off dated infrastructure and onto new digital infrastructure. Once completed the Staten Island radio frequencies will be encrypted.”

All Staten Island frequencies have now been fully encrypted with the radios updated last week, according to high-placed NYPD sources who are on Staten Island.

The news outlet most dependent on the NYPD radio communications on Staten Island is the Staten Island Advance, with the publication’s Executive Editor Brian Laline issuing a statement.

“We understand the NYPD’s need to upgrade a system so many decades old. But to trash the public’s right to know in the process is wrong — and dangerous. Transparency is essential if the NYPD expects to maintain trust of New Yorker’s. Mayor Adams says the “bad guys” monitor transmissions in the pursuit of doing bad things. That is probably true. But other cities have discovered ways that the ‘good guys’ continue access to the transmissions in order to keep the public informed about what the ‘bad guys’ are up to. “

Diane Kennedy, president of the New York News Publishers Association of which the Advance is a member, agreed and said encryption is a loss for Staten Island residents and the public as a whole.

“It is important for journalists to be able to inform the public of dangerous situations as they are happening … and the safety of journalists rushing to cover breaking news events [as to the] risks that lie ahead of them,” said Kennedy, who’s organization is also part of the Consortium. “Many families call Staten Island home and it’s important that they are afforded accurate immediate information about public safety risks in their neighborhoods.”

The New York City Council held a hearing in November where councilmembers criticized the NYPD of its policy to block media access to radio transmissions. NYPD Chief Ruben Beltran, who has presided over the implementation of the program, told the council that media access would not be considered until after the entire city is encrypted, which won’t be until at least 2025. Police officials have said any access in the future will be “with a delay of up to 30 minutes,” eliminating real-time reporting.

Encryption has become a trend throughout the country, with some jurisdictions blocking media access entirely, while others implementing a 15–30-minute delayed access.

The Consortium has been calling on the city council to compel the NYPD to provide access to radio transmissions without success. Staten Island councilmembers, including Councilmember Kamillah Hanks who chaired the November hearing, did not respond for comment. The new chair of the Public Safety Committee, Yusef Salaam, an avid police radio listener, did not respond.

A spokesperson for Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, however, issued a statement.

“Transparency is key to public safety. Journalists, volunteer first responders, and other key entities across diverse neighborhoods rely on the publicly available radio system to help keep people safe and deliver important information. At a Council hearing on the issue, the NYPD did not specify a plan to integrate stakeholders in their rollout of encrypted radio frequencies, which raises serious public safety and policy concerns.”

Queens state Sen. Michael Gianaris introduced legislation in November that would compel all police departments in the Empire State, including the NYPD, to provide “real-time” unencrypted police radio communications to credentialed members of the media. While press members would get a real-time feed, the general public would have access to a 10-minute delayed broadcast of police communications. An Assembly sponsor has not yet stepped forward to introduce the bill in that chamber.

“Preserving access to law enforcement radio is critical for a free press, use by violence interrupters, and the freedoms and protections afforded by the public availability of this information,” said Gianaris. “As encrypted radio usage grows, my legislation would strike the proper balance between legitimate enforcement needs and the rights and interests of New Yorkers.”

Media organizations blasted the latest encryption of police frequencies.

“It’s a shame that the police department is not informing us, and it’s wearing away transparency that will result in a reduction in trust from the community,” said Bruce Cotler, president of the New York Press Photographers Association and a member of the Consortium. “We continue to request that the NYPD find a solution in a timely fashion to allow the press to continue to have access to their communications as we have had for the past 90 years.”

Reporters in the field remain the loudest critics of the NYPD encryption policy.

Adam West Balhetchet of Loudlabs News, which provides video and photos to news organizations city-wide, said the elimination of Brooklyn and now Staten Island police radio transmissions will cripple news operations and may even lead to job losses.

“So far, we’ve not had any concrete assurances that the media will be provided access,” said Balhetchet. “We still don’t have access to north Brooklyn frequencies. We do not have access to Staten Island’s newly encrypted frequencies. There are alternative ways to get news but none of them are as reliable and consistent as good old-fashioned scanner listening.”

Balhetchet lamented not only will the public be left in the dark, but the media industry will be damaged.

“My message to anyone who depends on this and does it for a living: Be prepared, have exit strategies and prepare to find work immediately should things go dark,” he said.

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