Active Shooter Emergency: Why Scanner Access Saves Lives
When gunfire erupts at a parade, school, or public venue, families desperately need information. Where is safe? Where should they run? Are their loved ones okay? Open police scanners have provided this critical, life-saving information—until encryption silenced them.
When There's a Shooter in Your Neighborhood, Would You Want to Know?
This isn't a hypothetical. During active shooter events, people with scanner access have made better decisions about evacuation, reunification, and shelter-in-place. People without it have waited in fear, dependent on official channels that update slowly—if at all.
Police encryption takes away your ability to know.
Case Study: Highland Park, Illinois (July 4, 2022)
What Happened
On July 4, 2022, a gunman opened fire on a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, killing 7 people and injuring dozens. The shooting created chaos and panic as thousands of parade-goers fled.
How Scanner Access Helped
Real-Time Location Info
Scanner listeners heard exactly where the shooter was located and which areas were clear, allowing informed evacuation decisions.
Family Reunification
Parents separated from children during the chaos could hear where people were being gathered and directed.
Shelter vs. Flee
Real-time updates allowed people to decide whether to shelter in place or evacuate based on actual police activity.
Accurate Information
While rumors spread on social media, scanner listeners had access to verified police communications.
"I was able to text my daughter where to go based on what I was hearing on the scanner. She was running in the wrong direction. That information may have saved her life."— Parent at Highland Park parade
The Contrast: What Encryption Looks Like
Chicago: Encrypted
- No real-time information for public
- Families wait in fear during incidents
- Official alerts arrive 15-45 minutes late
- 40 shots fired incident went unreported for 30+ minutes
- Journalists can't verify police claims
- No independent documentation
Result: Families blind during emergencies
Highland Park: Open
- Real-time location and status updates
- Families make informed decisions
- Immediate evacuation guidance
- Scanner listeners share accurate info
- Journalists report accurately
- Community has situational awareness
Result: Lives saved through information
What Information Scanners Provide During Emergencies
Location Information
Exact locations of threats, which buildings are affected, perimeter boundaries, and areas confirmed clear.
Threat Status
Whether the shooter is active, contained, apprehended, or deceased. Critical for deciding whether to shelter or evacuate.
Medical Response
Where ambulances are staging, which hospitals are receiving victims, and medical assistance locations.
Reunification Points
Where separated families should meet, staging areas for parents, and evacuation bus locations.
Traffic & Routes
Which roads are blocked, safe evacuation routes, and traffic diversions.
Real-Time Updates
Continuous status updates as the situation evolves, not delayed press releases.
Why Official Channels Aren't Enough
Official Emergency Alerts
- Delayed 15-45 minutes (sometimes longer)
- Generic information ("shelter in place")
- No real-time updates
- Don't specify which areas are safe
- Often come after crisis has passed
- May not reach everyone
Social Media
- Mixed with rumors and misinformation
- Unverified claims spread rapidly
- Panic-inducing false reports common
- Hard to distinguish fact from fiction
- Often conflicting information
News Media
- Also delayed waiting for police confirmation
- Can't verify without scanner access
- May broadcast inaccurate initial reports
- Limited real-time capability in encrypted areas
Police Scanners
- Real-time, unfiltered information
- Direct from first responders on scene
- Continuous updates as situation develops
- Specific locations and status
- Professional, verified communication
- Allows informed decision-making
How to Prepare for Emergencies
If Your Area is NOT Encrypted
- Download scanner apps now
Broadcastify, Scanner Radio, and 5-0 Radio provide access to local feeds. Test them before you need them.
- Find your local feeds
Search for your city/county and bookmark the feeds. Know which channels cover your area.
- Consider a physical scanner
For reliable access during internet outages or high-traffic events when apps may lag.
- Learn basic terminology
Understanding common codes helps you interpret what you hear.
- Protect your access
If your department proposes encryption, attend city council meetings and voice opposition.
If Your Area IS Encrypted
Unfortunately, if your local police have encrypted their communications, there is no way to get direct real-time information. Your options are limited:
- Sign up for official emergency alerts (Wireless Emergency Alerts, local apps)
- Follow local news and verified official social media accounts
- Know that information will be delayed and incomplete
- Fight for change—encryption policies can be reversed
Your community can reverse encryption. Learn how to fight back →
The Human Cost of Information Blackouts
When encryption blocks scanner access during active shooter events:
- Parents can't find their children. Without knowing where police are directing people, families are separated longer.
- People run toward danger. Without real-time location information, evacuees may flee into the threat.
- Rumors fill the void. When official information is absent, misinformation spreads on social media.
- Panic increases. Not knowing is often worse than knowing—even knowing bad news.
- Trust erodes. When police control all information, communities question what's being hidden.
Information is safety. Taking it away doesn't protect anyone—it just leaves families in the dark during the most terrifying moments of their lives.
What Police Say vs. What Evidence Shows
Police Claim:
"Encryption protects tactical operations during active shooter response."
Reality:
SWAT and tactical teams have always had encrypted channels available. Encrypting routine dispatch doesn't improve tactical security—it just cuts off public information.
Police Claim:
"Shooters could use scanners to evade police."
Reality:
There are zero documented cases of an active shooter using a scanner during an attack. Active shooters are not listening to radios—they're engaged in the attack itself.
Police Claim:
"Official channels provide sufficient information."
Reality:
Official alerts during active shooters are delayed 15-45+ minutes and contain minimal actionable information. By the time they arrive, the situation has often changed dramatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I get real-time information during an active shooter?
In areas with unencrypted police radio, scanner apps like Broadcastify or physical scanners provide real-time updates. In encrypted areas, you're limited to official alerts, social media, and news—all of which are delayed. This is why encryption is dangerous.
Is it legal to listen to police scanners during an emergency?
Yes. Police scanners are completely legal in all 50 states. You have every right to monitor unencrypted police communications during emergencies or any other time.
Why don't official emergency alerts work as well as scanners?
Official alerts are delayed (often 15-45 minutes), limited in detail, and don't update in real-time. During Highland Park's 2022 shooting, scanners informed evacuation while official alerts arrived much later.
What if my area's police are encrypted?
If your police are encrypted, you have no way to get real-time emergency information directly. You'll depend entirely on delayed official channels. Consider fighting for transparency in your community.
Did scanner access actually help during a mass shooting?
Yes. During the Highland Park, IL shooting on July 4, 2022, open scanner communications allowed families to locate loved ones, understand evacuation routes, and make informed safety decisions while official channels remained silent.
Protect Your Right to Know
During the next emergency in your community, will you have access to real-time information—or will you wait in the dark while police control the narrative?
Encryption is a policy choice, not a technological necessity. Communities that fight back can restore transparency.
Take Action for Transparency
Your voice matters. Here are concrete ways to advocate for open police communications in your community.
Contact Your Representatives
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