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Council Hears Tight Limits on Media Access to Police Radio; FBI CJIS Cited as Major Constraint
Summary
A Honolulu City Council proposal to give the media access to police radio communications drew support for transparency and warnings that federal CJIS rules and privacy concerns sharply limit what HPD can legally broadcast.
The Honolulu City Council heard competing views Friday on a proposal to give media outlets access to Honolulu Police Department radio communications, with civil‑liberties advocates and reporters pushing for transparency and HPD and its telecommunications staff warning that federal criminal‑justice rules and privacy laws restrict what can be broadcast.
Supporters said public access to radio traffic would help keep residents informed during fast‑moving incidents. Opponents, including a telecommunications specialist for HPD, told the council that the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services, or CJIS, sets binding limits on sharing material that may include names, dates of birth, juvenile information and other personally identifying details.
The dispute centered on whether audio could be released live, or on delay, without violating federal rules and exposing victims, witnesses and ongoing investigations. Roy Kuroda, who identified himself as working “in…
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