[FedCom] Question for the Group: "Who watches the Watchers?"

[HornSmoke]

The Federal Protective Service (FPS) is supposed to be just that: a 
protective service!

While monitoring 417.200 yesterday (Friday), I heard an unencrypted P25 
transmission. This is not unusual on the dispatch center's end; however, 
almost all of the officer-end traffic is encrypted. Shamefully, someone 
slipped up yesterday, and an officer "ran" the unencrypted information 
of an apparent derelict/vagrant sleeping on the steps of an east coast 
federal facility. This included the fellow's full name, DOB (no biggie 
there) and, ultimately, his Social Security Number. Mind you, this was 
totally "in the clear". The dispatcher then confirmed the subject's 
known address, etc. All anyone would need is a recording program to go 
back and transcribe the subject's data and start identity theft.

Given the understandable angst of the recent Veterans' Administration 
debacle regarding a stolen computer and SSN's, etc., one would think the 
feebs would be more discrete in putting out such information "in the 
clear." Then again, how much training do these "guv'mint gunslingers" 
actually have? Please pardon the cynicism.

Are there any other FPS freqs I should be monitoring here in "FEMA 
Region 1?"

Best to the Group,

Loren
Maine