Radio found, YCSO continuing investigation into interference

Radio found, YCSO continuing investigation into interference News Staff Wed, 07/24/2024 - 8:45 am

• (ARCHIVE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Young County dispatcher, Travis Poteet, handles a call made to the Young County Sheriff’s Office in July 2022.

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TC Gordon news@grahamleader.com

The Young County Sheriff’s Office has made progress on an investigation into emergency radio interference, but an arrest has yet to be made on the individual involved.

For a few weeks, disruptive transmissions had been broadcasting from an unknown source on the YCSO frequency. This frequency is used by YCSO to communicate with dispatch, as well as to communicate with first responders in the field.

The individual and their radio were found last week by YCSO. The radio was confiscated and YCSO are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the interference, but an arrest has not been made.

The music coming across the frequencies appeared to be played from a local radio station.

The music played intermittently, inhibiting the work of dispatch and emergency personnel. It came across the radio lasting anywhere from a few seconds to 30 seconds, or more.

Last week, YCSO filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the two organizations worked together to locate the source of these problems.

A similar situation occurred in 2022 when disruptive transmissions came across the YCSO frequency and involved mostly the sounds of barking dogs, but occasionally sounds of adults and children speaking or yelling.

Recently, dispatchers had begun reading a statement provided to them by the FCC, in an attempt to persuade the individual to stop disrupting the channel.

The broadcast served as a formal warning to the individual that they were in violation of Title 47 of the U.S. Code. It also notified the individual that all violations were being recorded and were being sent to the FCC for referral to the Department of Justice.

This issue was of great concern to Young County Sheriff Travis Babcock because it affected the emergency work of his office and first responders throughout the county.

“This job is difficult enough. Then when you add on that and not being able to communicate with your deputies or your patrol guys out there on the street, you’re putting all these people in danger,” Babcock said.

The Graham Leader will continue to follow the YCSO investigation and provide information as it is released.

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