NYSBA Supports Police Radio Transparency Act (A.11199A & S.10079)

For the past several years, NYPD and a few other county police departments have been encrypting their police communications.  As a result, broadcast journalists have been unable to access basic dispatch information to cover events and stories involving police activity.  Informing the public is a key part of a broadcaster’s role as a “First Informer.”  Moreover, not informing the public about critical events involving police activity is contrary to the public interest. 

Broadcast journalists have had access to police radio communications for nearly 90 years.  Cutting off this information source is dangerous to the public.  In NYC and some other counties, citizens must rely on untrustworthy social media platforms to obtain critical information.   

The legislation would require law enforcement agencies to make basic dispatch information available to professional journalists.  There would be an exemption for sensitive information.  The department of state in consultation with the NY State police would establish a process in which professional journalists, newscasts and employees of emergency services could maintain access to police radio communications that have been encrypted.

Similar legislation passed the NY Assembly and Senate last year but was vetoed by the Governor.  The new version of the legislation addresses the concerns raised by Governor Hochul last year. The bills in the Assembly and Senate are identical.  We want to thank Senate Deputy Majority Leader Miike Gianaris (D. 12^th Western Queens) and Assembly Person Karins Reyes (D.87 Bronx) for sponsoring this legislation.

You can access the new legislation here.

You can see our memo supporting the legislation here: pdf