A Miami-Dade police officer admitted to renting his encrypted police radio to a tow truck operator for $300 per week as part of a kickback scheme that allowed the operator to monitor accident calls and arrive before dispatched companies, according to Courthouse News Service. The officer also accepted $500 to $600 in regular bribes and borrowed an additional $2,000 to $3,000 in cash over a five-month period.
Operator takeaway
Renting a police radio to a tow operator for $300 a week — scanner access is one thing, but a law enforcement encrypted radio gives an operator capabilities that constitute a federal crime for both parties.