File #: Int 1460-2025    Version: * Name: Access to encrypted police radios.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Public Safety
On agenda: 11/12/2025
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to access to encrypted police radio
Sponsors: Gale A. Brewer, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Christopher Marte, Kamillah Hanks, Yusef Salaam
Council Member Sponsors: 5
Summary: This bill would require the New York City Police Department to adopt a written policy regarding access to encrypted radio channels. Such policy will protect sensitive information, and require real-time access to encrypted radio for professional journalists, and emergency service organizations, and time-delayed access to communications for the general public.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1460, 2. Int. No. 1460, 3. Memorandum in Support, 4. November 12, 2025 - Stated Meeting Agenda

Int. No. 1460

 

By Council Member Brewer, the Public Advocate (Mr. Williams) and Council Members Marte, Hanks and Salaam

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to access to encrypted police radio

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 14 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 14-199 to read as follows:

§ 14-199 Access to police dispatch radio communications. a. Definitions.

Emergency service organization. The term “emergency service organization" means a public or private entity that provides emergency fire, medical, ambulance, or rescue services, including entities providing services as part of the city’s crisis management system. 

Encryption. The term “encryption” means a method of encoding information for the purpose of preventing unauthorized individuals from accessing such information.

Professional journalist.  The term “professional journalist” has the same meaning as ascribed in section 79-h of the new york state civil rights law.

Radio communication. The term “radio communication” means verbal communications that are transmitted over radio frequency between a police dispatch center and department personnel, or among department personnel that are accessible to all personnel monitoring that frequency. Such term shall not include private communications between two devices.

Sensitive information.  The term “sensitive information” means any portion of a radio communication that, if disclosed, would: (i) identify a confidential source or disclose confidential information; or (ii) reveal any non-routine criminal investigative techniques or procedures.

b. The department shall adopt a written radio encryption policy governing all covered radio communications. Such policy shall meets the following requirements that all radio communications, with the exception of sensitive information, shall be: (1) accessible in real-time, to professional journalists, who have received credentials issued by the mayor’s office of media and entertainment, and emergency service organizations; and (2) accessible to the general public, up to, but not greater than, ten minutes after such communication took place.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.

 

JDK

LS #3765

11/10/25