Electronic jamming device causes public safety crisis
MORGAN HILL, August 27, 2021 – Authorities have discovered an electronic jamming device at a residence in Morgan Hill that is disrupting public safety communications throughout southern Santa Clara County. The presence of the device has caused widespread safety concerns, affecting multiple communication systems including WiFi, satellite and cellular signals.
Impact and location of the device
The Morgan Hill Police Department learned of the issue from the Santa Clara County 9-1-1 Communications Department on Wednesday and immediately took action. Police said in a press release that the jamming device "is disrupting, obstructing and interfering with communication transmissions on Santa Clara County public safety radio frequencies." Affected agencies include the Morgan Hill Police Department and Fire Department, the Gilroy Police Department and Fire Department, the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Search and Disablement
Using RF testing equipment, the Communications Division technicians located the device and found it at a residence at Lagasse Road and Christoff Avenue in Morgan Hill. After obtaining a search warrant, the police searched the residence and found two large jamming devices. Inside the home, the officers found that their police radios and cell phones were not functioning properly. The technicians then disabled the jamming devices to restore normal communications.
Conclusion and Next Steps
This incident highlights the potential threat of signal jammers to public safety communications, especially the impact on emergency response in emergency situations. The prompt actions of the Morgan Hill Police Department and the Communications Division effectively curbed this safety hazard and ensured that the communication system in the area was restored to normal.