Chelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes readily acknowledges that when it comes to technology—particularly in the realm of communications—law enforcement finds itself trailing behind criminals.
A proposed wiretap bill filed by Chelsea Rep. Gene O’Flaherty could alter this dynamic. The measure has garnered support from Attorney General Martha Coakley and Kyes.
Kyes attended a Boston press conference Monday morning representing local police chiefs. He told the Record that current state law, drafted in an era before cell phones existed even in science fiction, leaves police at a disadvantage.
“As it is right now, when local and State Police working investigations, we do wiretaps on cell phones, but only when we’re working with a federal partner,” Kyes said. “Under the current state statute, we don’t have the ability to wiretap cell phones. The law is from the 1960s and only talks about hard lines…This gives us more tools in law enforcement and in conducting more competent investigations.”
The bill would broaden the definition of organized crime and expand the categories of crimes eligible for wiretaps, including money laundering, drugs, rape, kidnapping, human trafficking, firearms trafficking, and child enticement.
Under the proposal, applications for cell phone wiretaps would go directly to judges rather than clerk magistrates. The authorization period would extend to 30 days instead of the current 15 days.
According to Kyes, the legislation represents modernization rather than innovation. “Bottom line is it’s going to help us in law enforcement keep pace with the ever-changing technology advances and how people communicate,” he explained. “Honestly, now, the criminals have the upper hand. This will put us on a level playing field.”