In large-scale and homogenous departments, yes, that might sometimes work.
Through what is known as mutual aid, it is routine for various smaller police agencies to interoperate with other law enforcement agencies; with county, state and federal agencies with direct jurisdiction, and police departments from neighboring municipalities through mutual aid.
Finding a half-dozen police agencies at various calls is not uncommon.
This isn't only a factor with small departments, either. In some areas within cities with large established police departments, there can be a dozen law enforcement agencies with direct jurisdiction for a particular location and/or event.
And yes, this can be why officers at large events are often issued plastic cuffs. No keys.
Paralleling the problem that would arise with using multiple different cuff keys, simple radio communications among the various police and municipal agencies can be an issue. Everything from the frequencies and bands and encoding to the individual radio codes used by officers can lead to confusion.
When the hits the fan, a police officer needs equipment that works reliably, and the officer doesn't want to even have to think about using the equipment, nor about different cuff keys, radio protocols or codes.
There was a usenix paper I recall from last year: Why (special agent) Johnny (still) Can't Encrypt[1], which I think includes some of the issues of trying to run these sorts of ad-hoc radio networks securely.
Through what is known as mutual aid, it is routine for various smaller police agencies to interoperate with other law enforcement agencies; with county, state and federal agencies with direct jurisdiction, and police departments from neighboring municipalities through mutual aid.
Finding a half-dozen police agencies at various calls is not uncommon.
This isn't only a factor with small departments, either. In some areas within cities with large established police departments, there can be a dozen law enforcement agencies with direct jurisdiction for a particular location and/or event.
And yes, this can be why officers at large events are often issued plastic cuffs. No keys.
Paralleling the problem that would arise with using multiple different cuff keys, simple radio communications among the various police and municipal agencies can be an issue. Everything from the frequencies and bands and encoding to the individual radio codes used by officers can lead to confusion.
When the hits the fan, a police officer needs equipment that works reliably, and the officer doesn't want to even have to think about using the equipment, nor about different cuff keys, radio protocols or codes.