Police radio access bill passes N.Y. legislature despite Staten Island GOP opposition

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — In a major vote, both portions of the New York State Legislative branch voted in favor of giving journalists access to police radio frequencies after over a year of radio silence in some parts of New York City.

The Keep Police Radio Public Act passed through the New York State Assembly in an 85-61 vote and the New York State Senate in a 38-22 vote on June 5.

The act, according to the New York State Senate, “ensures that, except for sensitive information, all radio communications are accessible to emergency services organizations and professional journalists.”

The three Republican assemblymembers on Staten Island — Mid-Island’s Sam Pirozzolo, South Shore’s Michael Reilly, and East Shore’s Michael Tannousis — voted against the legislation in conjunction with borough State Sen. Andrew Lanza.

Reilly, Pirozzolo, and Tannousis share a similar outlook on the bill: while not wholly against it, they would like to have a delay in transmission so that law enforcement can get to the scene first.

“As a former #NYPD lieutenant and current public official, I understand the importance of public access to accurate information — but I also understand how that access can be abused or misused, jeopardizing public safety and possibly even human life in the process,” Reilly wrote on X. “I recently debated A3516, which would require law enforcement to allow some journalists to access those frequencies. It is law enforcement and other first responders whose monitoring of those frequencies must be treated as a priority. Though I voted NO on this bill, I urge @GovKathyHochul to amend it and include a 10 minute delay so that we can sustain public access while prioritizing public safety. “

Radio traffic from Staten Island’s four police precincts have been offline since February 2024. The move came as a part of a long-term plan by the city to update outdated equipment while encrypting NYPD radio frequencies throughout the five boroughs.

According to media reports, the NYPD says the use of encryption is to keep officers and the public safe from radio interference and prevent listeners with ill intent from using such communications in a way that could harm or endanger them.

“I’m not against it [the bill] at all, except I think the delay was great…,” said Pirozzolo. “Let’s say there’s a shooting [at a school, and] the police and the emergency services can set up a command post. If they need ambulances to get in and out, they can get there. Then after a period of time, whether it be an hour or half an hour, then let the reporters get it. Because once it goes public, parents are going to rush to the school, everyone’s going to rush to the school. And if they get there before emergency services, which could be likely, especially if it’s a local community school, things get clogged up and maybe the proper resources or help — whether it’s police wise or health wise — are not going to be adequate to provide the services that the condition requires,”

In a comment to the Advance/SILive.com, Lanza said the following: “Could potentially endanger police as they do their jobs. Could also assist criminals as they commit crimes and plan escape.”

“I voted no on the so-called ‘Keep Police Radio Public’ Act because, without a 10-minute delay, broadcasting real-time police communications can compromise officer safety, tip off criminals and create unnecessary chaos during emergencies. While transparency is important, it should never come at the expense of public safety or law enforcement’s ability to respond effectively,” Tannousis said.

The new legislation would only make the police radio transmissions available for “emergency services organizations and professional journalists.”

The two Democratic Staten Island representatives serving in the New York state legislative branch, State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, who represents the North Shore and parts of Brooklyn, and Assemblymember Charles Fall, who represents the North Shore and parts of Brooklyn and Manhattan, voted in favor of the bill.

“When voting on any piece of legislation, I take community feedback and the needs of my district seriously. In the case of the Keep Police Radio Public Act, I did not receive significant concerns from constituents prior to the vote. Based on the information available and the absence of opposition, I welcome continued dialogue to ensure that transparency and public input remain central to this conversation. Should concerns come to light, a law can always be reviewed and amended if necessary,” Fall told the Advance/SILive.com.

The shift to encryption began in July 2023 with several Brooklyn’s precincts, and then slowly crept through the other boroughs.

“I did have some concern with privacy and things like that, but I know how important it is specifically to the press — especially local papers like (The Advance/SILive.com)— and helping (journalists) do (their) jobs well and efficiently and informing the public. So, that is a big part of the reason why I voted in favor of it,” Scarcella-Spanton said to the Advance/SILive.com.

The act was sent back to the Assembly as it is the chamber that the legislation originated in. The Assembly will submit it to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s desk, where she will have until New Year’s Eve to sign it into law or veto it.