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The Metropolitan Police Department in Washington D.C. is making a bold move that will surely have other agencies across the country following their lead. Last month Metropolitan P.D. Chief Cathy Lanier announced that the department will start encrypting its radio communications meaning that police scanners will go silent.
Chief Lanier said one of the reasons the Department was encrypting its communications was due to the fact that smart phones and other technological advnaces have made it too easy for people to listen in.
"There are so many mobile apps now that you can get where you can monitor police transmissions," Lanier said.
"We've recovered numerous mobile phones that people committing crimes have set so they can listen to police radio, even on search warrants and gun cases. And that has made police work more dangerous."
Lanier is adamant that the new policy was not implemented to restrict the press or curtail their access to information from the police department.
"It's not something we're doing to keep the press out. It's something we're doing to keep our community and our police officers safe," she said.
The agency plans to d share its encryption codes with surrounding police departments, as well as keep a few radio channels open. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites        
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