YAKIMA, Wash. – Yakima police have launched an investigation into illegal broadcasts on their primary radio channel, which have been disrupting emergency communications for months.
Officers noticed unusual transmissions coming through dispatch, which led to the discovery. Lieutenant Jim Moore explained the severity of this interference.
“The impact to the community could be great if it’s at the completely wrong time and a significant enough disruption,” Moore said.
The department’s main radio channel is critical for coordinating emergency responses. The unauthorized transmissions have included open mics, music and messages directed at law enforcement.
“The transmissions will be somebody screaming or it’ll be radio music. And then get upset about traffic tickets,” Moore said.
Such disruptions are rare but can have serious consequences during real-time emergencies when seconds are crucial.
“It is a real time issue, and because in real time we have seconds sometimes to manage resources and responses, it’s important that we have full access of our channel. The worst case scenario is we have someone that needs help or a citizen that needs help and we’re unable to address the situation and properly respond to that situation,” Moore said.
The investigation now involves the FCC, with police collaborating with radio experts to locate the source of the interference.
“There’s civil fines that can be as much as $120,000 per day of disruption… There’s also a penalty criminal that you can be incarcerated for up to two years,” Moore said.
Yakima police warn that anyone caught transmitting on police or EMS frequencies may face additional penalties, including equipment seizures. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers. Tips leading to an arrest could result in a reward of up to $1,000.
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