As police encryption looms, BPD offers olive branch with 'near real-time' call log
Berkeley police said they came up with the idea in response to "concerns" that had been raised about public access.
Berkeley police have just put forward a plan to launch a "near real-time" online call log with city officials likely to vote Tuesday night to suspend public access to police radio traffic.
The compromise proposal quietly appeared Monday on the Berkeley City Council agenda for Tuesday night's meeting.
Previously, Berkeley police have said they must encrypt their radio traffic due to state guidance about sensitive information and because their ongoing staffing crisis allows them no alternative.
Last week, The Berkeley Scanner put forward several alternative measures that other California police departments have put in place — including an online call log in San Francisco and Burbank's delayed radio transmission approach.
Many police agencies in the state have opted to fully encrypt their radio traffic and legislative efforts to block them from doing so have been unsuccessful.
One notable exception is Palo Alto PD, which initially encrypted its traffic but later announced it would re-open radio transmissions in the interest of public access.
Emilie Raguso
Berkeley's new call log "will display the general type, location, and time of calls for service with a brief delay for privacy and safety," according to the supplemental item from Berkeley Police Chief Jen Louis.
"Even as encryption advances privacy and safety, our commitment to transparency remains strong," she wrote.
Louis noted that the department had come up with the call log concept in response to "concerns" that had been raised about the original proposal.
"Information will appear with a brief delay to protect individual privacy and ensure operational security, while still giving the public a current and accurate view of police activity citywide," the chief wrote.
The item does not include a set time for the proposed delay, but notes that the log would be "updated frequently throughout the day."
The encryption item is currently slated for Tuesday night's consent calendar — meaning the public will be able to comment but there won't be much council discussion.
It could still be pulled to the action calendar during the meeting, to allow for more discussion, if at least three City Council members make that request.
The Scanner will continue to cover this issue closely.
If you have thoughts to share before the vote, email the full Berkeley City Council by writing to council@berkeleyca.gov. Please note: Sender information will become public as part of the published agenda.
