By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir stated he has always been a
supporter of the public having a right to know what local law enforcement is
doing. That stance includes those citizens listening to scanners and
picking up frequencies used by law enforcement and first responders.
Law enforcement is allowed to scramble or switch to private frequencies on their
radio communication. Bellendir said years ago he talked with the communications
director to specifically leave the channel the Sheriff’s Office uses for
day-to-day operations unscrambled for the public to hear.
"There have always been rules when showing up to an accident or scene," said Bellendir. "One, you secure the scene. That is for the protection of evidence, protection of yourself and any victims that may be there. In recent years, I have not had any problems with citizens or press showing up."
One of the main reasons Bellendir wanted an open frequency is to keep the
public informed when severe weather strikes the area.
"You may have a tornado touch down north of Dundee, and it's not an imminent threat to Great Bend or anything," said Bellendir. "Maybe somebody on a farm between Dundee and Great Bend will hear that. Also, the people in Great Bend will understand things are getting serious if we have one on the ground."
When the Sheriff’s Office does need to handle an investigation privately they
are allowed to switch over to secured or scrambled frequencies.