Walla Walla County Law Enforcement to Begin Encrypting Scanner Traffic Oct. 30

According to Officials, the primary reason for the upcoming encryption is citizen safety, security, and data privacy.

   October 30th, All Law Enforcement in Walla Walla County Will Encrypt Their Primary Scanner Channel(s)

Via a news release and information posted on their Facebook page, the Walla Walla County Sheriff's Office says beginning October 30th, citizens with police scanners will not be able to listen in on their primary communication channels.

Authorities said while WA State does not have a state law or new policy, a number of agencies--including King County--already do this.

  The WWCSO Says It's Due to Rising Concerns Over Citizen Privacy and Safety

According to the Department:

"Under current public broadcast formats,  PII, or Personally Identifyable Information including Social Security Numbers, medical histories, dates of birth and home addresses of witnesses, victims and juveniles--are vulnerable to interception by anyone listening with a digital scanner of smartphone application." 

They also said encrypting frequencies prevents suspects from obtaining information as to the wherabouts of Officers, and using that data to avoid apprehension.

   How Many Agencies Will This Affect?

This new policy will be adhered to by the Walla Walla County Sheriff's Department and the Walla Walla and College Place Police Departments.  Besides King, Seattle PD, Snohomish and Skagit Counties currently encrypt their primary transmissions.

According to the WWSCO, after October 30th, anyone who tries to listen to the primary channel (or channels) will find the information will no longer be intelligible, or listenable. This will NOT affect any emergency servcies such as 9-1-1.