Editor’s note: Hochul should sign the Keep Police Radio Public Act

The Keep Police Radio Public Act was approved by the Assembly and state Senate and now goes before Gov. Kathy Hochul for her signature. Her approval needs to come fast, since the media has been kept in the dark by the New York City Police Department since it fully encrypted its police radio signals last year. If approved, the legislation would give access to encrypted law enforcement communications to emergency services organizations and professional journalists. “Preserving access to police radio is critical for a free press and to preserve the freedoms and protections afforded by the public availability of this information,” said state Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, who introduced the bill with Assembly Member Karines Reyes, in an email to City & State. “As encrypted radio usage grows, my proposal strikes the proper balance between legitimate law enforcement needs and the rights and interests of New Yorkers.”

The NYPD’s argument for encryption is to keep their communications from being heard by “the bad guys,” said photographer Todd Maisel, founder of the New York Media Consortium and a former Daily News colleague of mine. Maisel said that was only an excuse to keep the media from hearing what police are discussing. That’s why the consortium, along with The NewsGuild of New York and Communications Workers of America, lobbied hard for the legislation. “Sen. Gianaris and Assembly Member Reyes recognized that our state police departments answer to the public and this bill demands that the police be transparent and allow the media to monitor encrypted radio,” he told City & State in an email. There is one sticking point: If approved, let’s hope the police don’t push back on implementing it.