police radio encryption

police radio scanner

Journalism, Public Records Laws August 24, 2022

A year after the legislature passed a law on police radio encryption, Denver-area news outlets are still blocked from listening

But a year after House Bill 21-1250 was signed into law, reporters still can’t tune into Denver and Aurora police radio transmissions like they did before both agencies blocked public access — Denver in 2019 and Aurora three years earlier. Although each department has a written policy on radio access, neither has reached an agreement with any Denver metro news organizations.

Colorado Legislature, Colorado Legislature 2021, Journalism, Public Records Laws June 8, 2021

Amendments to police bills address public access to internal affairs records, body-cam footage, Brady lists and news media access to encrypted radio traffic

One change will impact the release of body-worn and dashboard camera footage, and another might help mitigate the loss of public information caused by the encryption of police radio transmissions. Two additional provisions address public access to records of completed police internal affairs investigations and lists of officers who have credibility issues.

Colorado Legislature, First Amendment, Journalism, Open Meetings Laws, Public Records Laws December 26, 2019

CFOIC’s year-in-review 2019: encrypted police radios, open internal affairs records, deleted emails

A split screen might be the best way to think about government transparency in Colorado in 2019. On one side is the ground-breaking new state law that opens records on completed police internal affairs investigations. On the other is the trend among law enforcement agencies in our state to encrypt 100 percent of their scanner transmissions.

Capitol dome

Colorado Legislature, Colorado Legislature 2019, First Amendment, Journalism, Open Meetings Laws, Public Records Laws May 4, 2019

Wrap-up: Internal affairs, anti-SLAPP bills highlight a productive 2019 Colorado legislative session

There was no need to wait for final adjournment to see that the 2019 Colorado legislative session was a productive one for freedom of information and First Amendment-related issues. Gov. Jared Polis cinched that on April 12, when he signed into law a groundbreaking transparency bill that ensures the public disclosure of records on police internal affairs investigations.