PUBLISHING PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS

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POI Hank responds:

The person who sent me an e mail did not identify himself/herself.

In General, there were certain aspects of

our radio log which the person did not like.

The writer did not seem to be ordering me

to stop publishing what we hear on

the police/fire radio channels,

but was advising me that I was allowing sensitive

information to be published which might

embarrass some individuals.

One complaint was that we published a

medical call to 740 Dunlawton Ave.,

where a person was having a bleeding rectal problem.

That address is not one of a family residence,

but is a professional building with doctors' offices,

and so in no way were we publishing what

might be sensitive to a particular patient or

family. We never publish names,

unless press releases come to us.

I am of the opinion that it is might be

somewhat useful for the community

to know what kind of injuries or medical

conditions might be prevalent in the area.

Perhaps rectal bleeding is of no concern

to the community, unless you and I

happen to know of friends and family members

perhaps of a significant large number,

who are experiencing sudden rectal bleeding

problems. You know, an epidemic,

but alas it is a long shot as a reason

for public service to community.

But, as I understand our governmental

agencies and medical professions,

we seem to learn about a significant

increase of medical problems, sometimes

way too long after the fact.

I do try to not publish embarrassing

medical conditions when the call is associated

with a family residence or location. Many

are not reported.

The person who had complaints

about what POI publishes in radio logs

mentioned the HIPPA laws.

I have already responded and told

that person that my understanding

is that HIPPA laws apply to Governmental

Agencies and Medical Professions,

and do not apply to the News Media

or citizens. But, I think I stated my position,

that we do try to unnecessarily report

patient conditions which might embarrass,

unless we see some possible community

purpose to know.

I also like to portray the kind of

medical conditions and emergencies

that our fire rescue and EVAC respond

to, who do an excellent job

of giving us medical attention when we

most need it.

A radio log such as ours,

shows the pulse of life in Volusia County.

Of course some times, the pulse

is high and perhaps distasteful to know about.

If so, change the channel and go to another

web site. The police/fire radio log web page

on the POI web site, is the most visited

web page among the 92 POI web pages,

after the Home Page.

I calls are Individual radio calls, person to

person on a radio channel set aside

for such use. Most agency radios

cannot listen into this private conversation

between one office and another.

I do have a radio that tunes into

such a channel, and listening to it

is not violating any law. I do not

publish what might be heard,

since I do preserve the purpose of

such a radio channel, and because

most information on that channel

I would not want to be part of

publication to the general public.

Many radio transmissions on I calls

involve an investigation that is on going

or pending, and POI will not publish

such sensitive information, in order

not to impede a police investigation.

In a later commentary I will speak to the

issue of publishing POI images of

the faces of victims of accidents, etc.

and to the issue of publishing names of

juveniles.

I have asked the person who has complained

to advise me of a particular section of the

Electronic Privacy Act which I can refer to.

As of now, the person has not responded

to my request.

--- hank springer Feb. 22, 2008 at 11:10 AM