Illinois Action Guide
Fighting Encryption in the Prairie State
Illinois has both the best and worst examples of police radio policy. Highland Park's open scanners saved lives during the 2022 mass shooting. Chicago's encrypted, delayed system leaves millions in the dark. This guide shows you how to protect scanner access in your Illinois community.
Illinois Encryption Landscape
A state of stark contrasts
Open Communities
Highland Park, Many Suburbs
Highland Park's open scanner access allowed real-time information during the July 4, 2022 shooting. Many suburban departments maintain accessible dispatch channels.
Mixed Systems
Suburban Chicago, Collar Counties
Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, and Kane counties have a patchwork of policies. Some agencies are open, others encrypted. Regional coordination is fragmented.
Fully Encrypted with Delay
Chicago (30-minute delay)
Chicago Police encrypted radios with a 30-minute delay and removal of sensitive transmissions. During emergencies, the public gets nothing in real time.
The Illinois Contrast
On July 4, 2022, Highland Park's open scanner access helped people flee danger and find loved ones during an active shooter attack. Meanwhile, 30 miles south, Chicago's encryption means similar emergencies would leave millions without real-time information. This isn't hypothetical—it's the documented difference between transparency and secrecy.
Highland Park: Scanners Saved Lives
The strongest evidence for open police communications
What Happened
During the July 4, 2022 Independence Day parade shooting that killed 7 and wounded dozens, Highland Park's open police scanner provided critical real-time information that helped people survive.
How Scanners Saved Lives
- Immediate situational awareness: People monitoring scanners knew about the active shooter within seconds—before official alerts
- Avoiding danger zones: Real-time police communications helped civilians understand where the shooter was and which areas to avoid
- Finding loved ones: Families used scanner information to locate relatives separated during the chaos
- Countering misinformation: Journalists monitoring scanners provided accurate updates, reducing panic from social media rumors
- Reducing 911 overload: People with scanner access didn't need to call 911 for information, leaving lines open for emergencies
What This Proves
Highland Park demonstrates that open scanner access is a public safety tool, not a threat. When advocates in other Illinois communities argue for transparency, cite Highland Park. When officials claim encryption improves safety, ask them to explain why Highland Park's open system helped save lives.
Fighting Chicago's 30-Minute Delay
The nation's worst police scanner policy
What Chicago Does
- Full encryption: All police radio communications are encrypted
- 30-minute delay: Public feed is delayed by 30 minutes
- Content censorship: "Sensitive" transmissions are removed entirely
- No real-time access: During active emergencies, the public gets nothing
Why This Harms Chicago
- Active shooters: 30 minutes is an eternity during a mass shooting
- Protests and civil unrest: Journalists cannot provide real-time coverage
- Severe weather: Tornado warnings and dangerous situations are delayed
- Accountability: Police misconduct cannot be independently documented
- Community trust: Secrecy breeds suspicion in a city with documented police problems
How to Fight Chicago's Delay Policy
Contact Your Alderman
Chicago's 50 aldermen control city policy. Find your alderman and demand they advocate for ending the delay. Frame it as public safety and accountability.
Attend City Council Meetings
Chicago City Council meets regularly. Sign up for public comment on police oversight and budget items. Demand transparency in CPD communications.
File FOIA Requests
Request documentation of incidents where scanner access caused harm to CPD officers. Expect "no responsive records"—proving the delay isn't justified.
Cite Highland Park
When officials defend encryption, ask: "If Highland Park's open scanners helped save lives 30 miles away, why does Chicago need a 30-minute delay?"
Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Your legal tools for fighting encryption
Illinois FOIA
5 ILCS 140Illinois has one of the stronger FOIA laws in the country. Use it to expose the lack of evidence for encryption and uncover decision-making processes.
- Response deadline: 5 business days (can extend to 10 with notice)
- Appeal to: Illinois Attorney General Public Access Counselor
- Fee waivers: Available for public interest requests
- Electronic delivery: Agencies must provide records electronically if requested
Illinois Open Meetings Act
5 ILCS 120Government bodies must provide public notice and allow public comment before making policy decisions. If encryption was decided in closed session, challenge it.
- 48-hour notice required for meetings
- Agenda specificity: Topics must be listed in advance
- Closed session rules: Limited to specific exemptions
- Minutes required: Even for closed sessions
Key tactic: If your city or county encrypted without a public vote or adequate notice, the decision may have violated the Open Meetings Act.
Sample Illinois FOIA Request
To: [Agency] FOIA Officer
Subject: Illinois Freedom of Information Act Request - Police Radio Encryption
Pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140), I request copies of the following records:
- All documented incidents from January 1, 2019 to present where public access to police radio communications (via scanner, streaming, or similar means) resulted in injury to any officer, escape of a suspect, or compromise of any police operation in [Jurisdiction].
- All budget documents, vendor quotes, contracts, and cost estimates related to police radio encryption systems.
- All internal communications (emails, memos, meeting minutes) regarding police radio encryption decisions.
- Any policies or procedures regarding media or public access to police communications.
If no responsive records exist for any category, please confirm in writing that no responsive records were located.
I request electronic delivery to [email] and waiver of any fees due to the public interest nature of this request.
If any records are withheld, please cite the specific FOIA exemption under 5 ILCS 140/7.
Illinois Public Access Counselor
If your FOIA request is denied or you receive an inadequate response, file a Request for Review with the Public Access Counselor within 60 days.
Office of the Attorney General - Public Access Counselor
Phone: (877) 299-3642
Website: foia.ilattorneygeneral.net
Key Illinois Contacts
Who to call, write, and visit
Illinois General Assembly
State legislation could establish transparency requirements statewide, like Colorado's HB21-1250.
Find Your State Representative
Illinois House of Representatives
Website: ilga.gov
Phone: (217) 782-8223
Use the "Find Your Legislator" tool with your address.
Find Your State Senator
Illinois Senate
Website: ilga.gov
Phone: (217) 782-5715
Request meetings when legislators are in-district.
Key Committees to Contact
- House Public Safety & Violence Prevention - Law enforcement policy jurisdiction
- Senate Public Safety - Police accountability and communications
- House Appropriations - Public Safety - Control state funding for communications systems
Chicago City Government
Chicago's 50 aldermen and the mayor control CPD policy. Sustained pressure can change the delay policy.
Find Your Alderman
Chicago City Council
Website: chicago.gov/city/en/about/wards.html
Every Chicago resident has one alderman. They're your direct line to city policy.
Mayor's Office
Office of the Mayor
Phone: (312) 744-3300
Website: chicago.gov/mayor
The mayor sets the tone on police policy. Coordinate constituent pressure.
Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA)
Independent police oversight
Phone: (312) 746-3609
Website: chicagocopa.org
COPA investigates CPD misconduct. They need real-time information to do their job effectively.
Community Commission for Public Safety
Elected civilian oversight body
Website: chicago.gov/ccpsa
The CCPSA has authority over police policy. Attend their public meetings.
Cook County Government
Cook County includes Chicago and many suburbs. The County Board and Sheriff set policy for unincorporated areas and county services.
Cook County Board of Commissioners
17 commissioners representing county districts
Website: cookcountyil.gov/board
Phone: (312) 603-6400
Find your commissioner by district. They control the Cook County Sheriff's budget.
Cook County Board President
Chief executive of Cook County
Website: cookcountyil.gov/president
The Board President can advocate for county-wide transparency policies.
Suburban Chicago Advocacy
Protecting scanner access in the collar counties
Chicago's suburbs—spanning Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, and McHenry counties—have a patchwork of radio policies. Many departments remain open, but the trend toward encryption is spreading. Act now to protect access in your community.
Cook County (Suburban)
Mixed - Some encrypted, some open
Suburban Cook includes 130+ municipalities with varying policies. Some share Chicago's STARCOM system (encrypted), while others operate independently.
Key Actions
- Check your local department's policy via RadioReference.com
- Contact your village board or city council
- Attend local police commission meetings
DuPage County
Partial encryption on DU-COMM
DuPage County Emergency Communications (DU-COMM) serves most of the county. Some talkgroups are encrypted, others remain open.
Key Actions
- Contact your DuPage County Board member
- Attend DU-COMM advisory board meetings
- Advocate for keeping dispatch channels open
Lake County
Mostly open dispatch
Lake County maintains more accessible communications than many neighboring counties. Protect this status by engaging proactively.
Key Actions
- Thank your local officials for maintaining transparency
- Monitor for any encryption proposals
- Build relationships with county board members now
Will County
Mixed policies
Will County's rapid growth has brought varied policies. Some newer departments lean toward encryption.
Key Actions
- Contact Will County Board members
- Attend village board meetings in your municipality
- Coordinate with neighboring communities for regional approach
Suburban Strategy: Prevent, Don't React
It's easier to prevent encryption than reverse it. In suburban communities:
- Build relationships now: Get to know your local officials before encryption is proposed
- Attend budget hearings: Radio system upgrades often trigger encryption discussions
- Propose transparency resolutions: Ask your village board to affirm commitment to open communications
- Cite Highland Park: It's in Illinois—your officials can't dismiss it as irrelevant
- Connect with fire departments: Suburban fire chiefs often oppose encryption for interoperability reasons
Illinois Media Contacts & Allies
Build your coalition
Media Organizations
Illinois Press Association
Represents newspapers across Illinois. They've advocated for open government and press access at the state level.
Website: il-press.com
Ask IPA to issue statement supporting scanner access and press freedom.
Illinois Broadcasters Association
Represents TV and radio stations statewide. They depend on scanner access for breaking news.
Website: ilba.org
Contact IBA to coordinate advocacy among member stations.
Chicago News Directors
Local TV news directors at ABC 7, CBS 2, NBC 5, WGN, and Fox 32. They've covered encryption's impact.
Pitch story: "Chicago's scanner delay blocks breaking news coverage."
Civil Liberties & Advocacy
ACLU of Illinois
Has worked extensively on police accountability in Chicago. May provide legal guidance or coalition support.
Website: aclu-il.org
Contact their police practices program about encryption transparency.
Better Government Association
Chicago's leading government watchdog. Focuses on transparency and accountability.
Website: bettergov.org
Propose investigative partnership on encryption decision-making.
Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts
Works on criminal justice reform and government accountability.
Website: chicagoappleseed.org
Frame encryption as a criminal justice transparency issue.
Fire/EMS Allies
Illinois Fire Chiefs Association
Fire chiefs have interoperability concerns when police encrypt without coordination.
Website: illinoisfirechiefs.org
Contact your local fire chief about encryption's impact on multi-agency response.
Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois
Statewide firefighter union. Can provide political support and public credibility.
Website: affi.org
Frame as public safety coordination issue, not political.
Take Action in Illinois
Everything you need to fight encryption
Illinois FOIA Templates
Ready-to-file public records requests
Highland Park Case Study
How scanners saved lives
Chicago Delay Analysis
The worst scanner policy in America
Testimony Scripts
Ready for city council or county board
Hybrid Alternatives
Proposals officials can accept
90-Day Campaign
Complete action timeline
Illinois Government Quick Links
- Find Your Legislators: ilga.gov (click "Find Your Legislator")
- Find Your Chicago Alderman: chicago.gov/city/en/about/wards.html
- Cook County Board: cookcountyil.gov/board
- Illinois Attorney General FOIA: foia.ilattorneygeneral.net
- Illinois Secretary of State: ilsos.gov (government directory)
Illinois Has the Evidence
No other state has a clearer example of scanner access saving lives than Illinois. Highland Park is your proof. When officials claim encryption improves safety, you have documented evidence from your own state showing the opposite. Use it.
Take Action for Transparency
Your voice matters. Here are concrete ways to advocate for open police communications in your community.
Contact Your Representatives
Use our templates to email your local officials about police radio encryption policies.
Get StartedRead Case Studies
See how encryption has affected real communities - from Highland Park to Chicago.
View CasesSpread Awareness
Share evidence about police radio encryption with your network and community.
Public Testimony
Learn how to speak effectively at city council and public safety meetings.
Prepare to Speak