NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- The City Council's Committee on Public Safety will hold a hearing Wednesday on several pieces of legislation on NYPD transparency, including a bill sponsored by Council Member Gale Brewer that would require the department to adopt a written policy regarding access to encrypted radio channels.
In 2023, the NYPD began encrypting their radio channels, essentially blocking them from the public and media access. Many media outlets objected, including 1010 WINS, saying the move was stopping them from doing their jobs in the public interest.
Brewer's bill would codify ongoing discussions and require the NYPD to allow full access to the media again.
"Police radio transmissions are a vital tool for responding to emergency incidents," Brewer said. "I understand that some frequencies could be reserved for emergency use for the law enforcement, but I do think there should be more communication with the press."
After committee, Brewer's bill would head to open hearings, where the public, the media and the NYPD would be able to weigh in. Brewer hopes a vote would happen soon.
"We hope to have a discussion with the police department and with journalists and with volunteer ambulance personnel," Brewer said. "Those are the individual who are most impacted and who have contacted us the most."
Brewer said that while other U.S. cities have figured out how to implement real-time access to journalists and time-delayed access to the public, the NYPD has not. But she's hopeful the matter will be worked out.
Back in June, lawmakers in Albany passed the Keep Police Radio Public Act to make sure that there is access to the transmissions, but Gov. Kathy Hochul has yet to sign it.