Encrypted vs Open Cities: A Side-by-Side Reality Check
Police departments claim encryption is necessary for public safety. When you compare similar cities facing identical challenges—one encrypted, one open—the documented record says otherwise.
Two cities, two outcomes
These are real cities that faced real emergencies. Their outcomes differed based on one policy choice: whether the public could hear police communications.
Comparison 1: Highland Park vs Chicago
Highland Park, IL
Pop. 30,000During 2022 mass shooting, real-time scanner info helped civilians avoid danger zones and locate family
Chicago, IL
Pop. 2.7MDuring 2022 courthouse shooting (40+ shots), public had zero real-time information
The Point: Same metro area, same July 4th weekend. Opposite outcomes for public awareness.
Comparison 2: Tampa vs Miami
Tampa, FL
Pop. 400,000Hosted Super Bowl 2021 with open radios; hurricane season coverage remains transparent
Miami, FL
Pop. 460,000Hurricane coverage now relies on delayed official sources; $25M system failed in 2014
The Point: Both face hurricanes, tourism, and crime. Only one chose transparency.
Highland Park: open scanners during a mass shooting
On July 4, 2022, a gunman opened fire during Highland Park's Independence Day parade, killing seven people. Because the city's radios were open, the public could track the response in real time and act on it.
First shots fired at parade
Police dispatch live on scanner; listeners immediately aware
News outlets broadcasting warnings based on scanner
Families using scanner info to locate loved ones and avoid danger zones
Public taking cover, avoiding active search areas
What scanner access provided:
- Situational awareness within seconds of the first shots
- Real-time police search areas, so people knew where to avoid
- Family reunification information for separated relatives tracking safe zones
- Media context that countered early social media rumors
- Reduced 911 volume from people seeking information
Chicago: encrypted radios, no public warning
Twenty-five miles south, Chicago uses one of the most restrictive encryption policies in the country. When a gunman fired more than 40 shots outside a Chicago courthouse that same year, the public received no information for 30 minutes.
First shots fired at courthouse
Police dispatch (encrypted—public hears nothing)
Complete information blackout for 30 minutes
Delayed, censored audio finally becomes available
Official press release issued
What encryption blocked:
- No warning for people near the courthouse while shots were being fired
- No independent media verification of what happened
- No way for families to track conditions in the area
- No public information until the active danger had passed
- Police controlled the entire narrative from the start
Impact by group
Open versus encrypted communications lands differently depending on who you are. These tables show the practical differences for journalists, residents, and emergency responders.
Impact on journalists
| Category | Open City | Encrypted City |
|---|---|---|
| Breaking News | Immediate awareness of incidents; can dispatch crews within minutes | 30+ minute delay or reliance on official press releases |
| Source Verification | Independent verification of police claims in real-time | Must accept official narrative; no independent check |
| Public Safety Alerts | Can broadcast warnings about active threats immediately | Warnings delayed until official channels update |
| Accountability | Audio evidence of police communications during incidents | No record of initial communications available |
ABC7 Chicago described Chicago's 30-minute delay as "almost useless for breaking news."
Impact on residents
| Category | Open City | Encrypted City |
|---|---|---|
| Active Threat Awareness | Know about shooters, pursuits, hazmat in real-time | Learn about dangers after the fact |
| Emergency Response Time | Can take protective action immediately | Wait for official alerts that may be delayed |
| Family Location | Track police activity to locate separated family during crises | No real-time information about incident areas |
| 911 Call Reduction | Scanner listeners do not need to call 911 for updates | Increased 911 volume from people seeking information |
Impact on emergency response
| Category | Open City | Encrypted City |
|---|---|---|
| Fire/EMS Coordination | Full situational awareness for volunteer and community responders | Interoperability issues; responders may not hear relevant transmissions from other agencies |
| Hurricane/Disaster Response | Real-time updates on conditions, evacuations, road closures | Reliance on delayed official channels during fast-moving events |
| Multi-Agency Events | Public can track coordination across agencies | Communication gaps between encrypted and open agencies |
| Community Watch | Neighborhood groups can monitor local activity | Community safety networks lose information access |
Tampa vs Miami: the Florida divide
Florida's internal divide makes the policy argument clearly. Tampa and Miami face the same challenges: hurricanes, tourism, drug trafficking, major events. Tampa stayed open; Miami went dark.
Tampa Bay Region
- Tampa PD: Open P25 digital
- Hillsborough County Sheriff: Open
- St. Petersburg PD: Mostly accessible
- Hosted Super Bowl 2021 with open radios
- Hurricane coverage fully transparent
Proves major metros can maintain open communications
South Florida Region
- Miami-Dade PD: Fully encrypted
- Miami Beach PD: Encrypted Dec 2021
- Broward County Sheriff: Encrypted
- $25M system failed in 2014; rebuilt at additional cost
- Hurricane coverage now delayed/filtered
Millions spent to block information from the public
Tampa hosted the Super Bowl in 2021, manages annual hurricane seasons, and handles all the same public safety demands Miami does—with open radios. Miami has never explained why its situation requires something Tampa chose not to do.
By the numbers
What this comparison shows
Encryption is a choice, not a necessity
Tampa and Highland Park face the same challenges as Miami and Chicago and chose differently. The comparison makes clear that encryption is about controlling information, not protecting officers.
Open access has documented benefits
Highland Park is the clearest example on record: during an active mass shooting, open scanner access helped people make better decisions. No comparable evidence exists for encryption saving lives.
Encryption claims are unsupported
Police departments claim encryption protects officers and operations. When asked to produce incidents where scanner access caused harm, they cannot. Palo Alto searched three years of records and found zero.
The public consistently loses
In every encrypted city, journalists lose independent verification, residents lose situational awareness, and responders lose coordination. The only party that gains is the department that now controls what the public knows.
How to use this evidence
If your city is considering encryption, these comparisons give you specific examples to bring to public meetings and officials:
Cite Highland Park
It's the best-documented case where open scanner access helped people during an active shooting. Ask officials to produce a counter-example where encryption saved a life.
Point to Tampa
Tampa manages the same demands as any major metro with open radios. If your city claims encryption is necessary, ask why Tampa reached a different conclusion.
Request records
File a FOIA request for incidents where scanner access harmed officers or operations. Palo Alto found zero in three years. Most cities will find the same.
Show the cost
Miami spent $25M on a system that failed and had to be replaced. Chicago's 30-minute delay serves no public safety purpose. Ask officials to justify spending that blocks public information.
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 SpeakSources and documentation
- Highland Park shooting scanner recordings and news coverage (July 2022)
- Chicago Police Department encryption policy documentation
- ABC7 Chicago reporting on scanner delays
- Tampa Police Department transparency portal
- Miami-Dade encryption implementation records
- Palo Alto FOIA response (zero incidents in 3-year search)
- NBC 6 South Florida: $25M Harris system failure (2014)