Police departments often claim encryption is necessary for modern policing. Comparing similar cities—one encrypted, one open—shows that claim doesn't hold up.
Same challenges, different choices
Tampa and Miami face similar crime rates, hurricane threats, and population sizes. Tampa maintains open communications; Miami went dark. That difference is a policy decision, not a technical requirement.
Documented outcomes
During the Highland Park shooting, open scanners helped civilians avoid danger zones and locate family members. Twenty-five miles south, Chicago's encrypted radios left the public without any information during a courthouse shooting the same weekend.
Evidence for advocacy
When your city considers encryption, these comparisons give you something concrete to cite. Point to Tampa. Point to Highland Park. Ask officials to explain why their city needs what those cities chose not to do.