Citing officer safety concerns and the ability of suspects to elude capture by listening in on scanner traffic, the Pueblo Police Department has announced that it will be encrypting all of its public safety radio channels.

That process will take place over the next 35-45 days, according to information provided by police in a press release.

The police department already has encrypted channels it currently uses, but its main channels are not encrypted, according to Capt. Kenny Rider of the police department. This decision will make it so all channels will be encrypted.

The Pueblo Fire Department also is following suit in encrypting its radio channels.

The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office will not be encrypting its main channels, according to Sheriff Kirk Taylor.

Taylor said the sheriff's office already has encrypted channels for major, sensitive operations, but its two main channels will remain accessible.

Davenport said the decision to encrypt police radio channels is one he and others at the police department contemplated for a couple of months and one he does not take lightly, as many citizens monitor police and fire radio traffic as a hobby.

"I'm sure it's disappointing for some, but I think most people are supporting us on it, quite frankly," he said.

Davenport said technological advances have made it possible for those who hurt and victimize the Pueblo community to download free mobile scanner applications to their cellphones; over time, he added, individuals with bad intentions have used those apps to further their criminal efforts and create additional dangers to officers.

A specific example of that has been suspects who have committed violent felonies using the apps to avoid law enforcement techniques designed to bring vehicular pursuits to a safe end, not only endangering officers but the public as well.

Another example cited by Davenport is instances of wanted felons -- including cases involving convicted felons in possession of firearms -- monitoring officers' radio traffic as they approach felons' locations in an attempt to evade arrest.

Post-arrest interviews of wanted parolees have confirmed that they have used scanner apps to evade arrest, Davenport said, and investigation has confirmed that, in several instances, suspects driving stolen vehicles have used scanner apps to avoid officers.

When deciding whether to encrypt its radio channels, Davenport said at least a little bit of consideration was given to the impact social media pages that monitor scanner traffic 24/7 and post what's being heard on those pages have.

"Sometimes they post things that potentially could create situations, but I'm convinced that it is unintentional and so really any consideration involving those folks was minimal at best," Davenport said. "It was really about the bandits that are able to download these things in a mobile atmosphere and use them to commit crimes and create dangerous situations for our officers."

When police encrypt its radio frequencies, officers will still be able to communicate between agencies in the event of a large cross-jurisdictional incident, Davenport said.

"I have considered using already encrypted radio frequencies and, while we do have that capability for planned incidents or operations, it leaves the active officers in the field with the necessity to switch channels during a high-stress situation," the chief said in a statement. "This is difficult and diverts the officers' attention from a very intense situation in which they need their fullest and most undivided attention in order to maintain their own safety."

Davenport said he is willing to share encryption codes with local media outlets that routinely monitor scanner traffic and report on crime in the community.

"In the end, this decision is based solely upon my concern for the safety of officers and our community," Davenport said.

ryans@chieftain.com