Police Scanners for Private Security: Professional Monitoring Guide
Private security professionals rely on police scanner monitoring to protect properties, coordinate with law enforcement, and maintain situational awareness. Here's how security teams use scanners effectively—and why police encryption threatens their mission.
Why Security Professionals Monitor Police Radio
Police scanner monitoring is a standard practice in professional security operations. It provides critical awareness that improves response times, coordination, and overall security effectiveness.
Property Protection
When protecting commercial properties, retail locations, or residential communities, scanners alert security to nearby criminal activity. Knowing that police are responding to a burglary two blocks away lets you heighten vigilance before trouble arrives.
Event Security
At concerts, sporting events, and public gatherings, scanner access helps coordinate with public safety. Hearing about a disturbance outside the venue, traffic incidents affecting attendee flow, or medical emergencies in the area improves response.
Executive Protection
Close protection teams monitor police frequencies for threats to their principals, route hazards, and nearby incidents. Real-time awareness of police activity can mean the difference between smooth transport and dangerous exposure.
Mobile Patrol
Patrol officers covering multiple properties benefit from knowing where police are responding. This helps prioritize patrol routes and provides context when responding to client calls.
Crisis Response
During active incidents—fires, active shooters, natural disasters—scanner monitoring provides real-time information that guides evacuation decisions and coordination with first responders.
Client Reporting
Security companies often report on area activity to clients. Scanner monitoring enables accurate incident reporting and demonstrates the security landscape to property owners.
"We protect a retail district with 50+ stores. Police scanner monitoring is essential—we know about shoplifters running from neighboring stores, suspicious vehicles in the area, and any serious crime nearby. Without it, we'd be operating blind."— Security Operations Manager, Major Retail Client
Legal Considerations for Security Professionals
Federal Law
Federal law permits receiving public radio transmissions, including police frequencies. The Electronic Communications Privacy Act protects scanner use while prohibiting use of intercepted communications to commit crimes.
State Variations
Most states allow scanner use by security professionals without special permits. However, some states have restrictions:
Check Your State
- Florida - Requires authorization; licensed security may qualify for exemption
- New York - Mobile use requires permit; security licenses may qualify
- Kentucky, Indiana - Mobile restrictions; verify security exemptions
- Most other states - No restrictions on scanner use
Company Policy
- Include in SOPs - Document scanner use in standard operating procedures
- Training requirements - Train officers on appropriate use and information handling
- Client disclosure - Some clients may want to know about monitoring practices
- Information sharing - Establish protocols for what can be shared and with whom
Professional Licensing
Check whether your state security license includes any provisions about radio monitoring. Some states' security regulations address communication equipment. Having your license in order strengthens your legal position.
Equipment Recommendations
Key Features for Security Operations
- Multiple banks/favorites - Monitor police, fire, company frequencies simultaneously
- P25 digital - Most modern public safety uses P25
- Priority scanning - Jump to important channels when active
- External speaker jack - For vehicle or command post use
- Weather alert - SAME alerts for severe weather
- Durability - Rugged construction for field use
Recommended Equipment
Base Station / Command Post
Full-featured base scanner for security offices and command posts. GPS location support, excellent P25 decode, multiple simultaneous monitoring. Connect external speakers for team awareness.
$500-650Mobile Patrol
Handheld scanners that work well for patrol officers. Can be vehicle-mounted with power adapter or carried on belt. Digital decode handles modern systems.
$400-600Budget Option
Good P25 performance at lower price point. Suitable for organizations building out monitoring capability across multiple officers.
$300-400Multi-Site Monitoring
For operations centers monitoring multiple regions. Software-defined radio with trunk recorder software can monitor dozens of talk groups simultaneously.
VariableAccessories
- External antenna - Improves reception significantly, especially for mobile and indoor use
- Speaker mic - Convenient for patrol officers carrying handhelds
- Vehicle mount - Keeps scanner secure and positioned for easy viewing
- Power cable - Direct 12V connection for vehicle installation
Operational Best Practices
Information Handling
Do
- Use scanner information to improve awareness and response
- Coordinate with police when you have relevant information
- Brief team members on nearby incidents when relevant to operations
- Document significant incidents for client reporting
Don't
- Share tactical information publicly or on social media
- Interfere with police operations based on scanner information
- Use scanner information to tip off individuals under investigation
- Chase police activity outside your operational area
Integration with Operations
- Dispatch integration - Have scanner at dispatch position; relay relevant information to field officers
- Supervisor awareness - Supervisors should monitor or receive updates on significant police activity
- Incident documentation - Note scanner-derived information in incident reports when relevant
- Post briefings - Include area police activity in shift briefings
Coordination with Law Enforcement
Scanner monitoring works best when combined with good law enforcement relationships:
- Introduce yourself to local police contacts
- Share relevant information you observe
- Don't rely on scanner alone—call dispatch for anything requiring police response
- Understand that you're hearing partial information; police know more than what's broadcast
The Impact of Police Encryption
When police departments encrypt their radio communications, private security loses a critical operational tool.
What Security Teams Lose
Area Awareness
No longer know about crimes occurring near protected properties until after the fact.
Event Intelligence
Can't track police response to incidents at or near events being secured.
Crisis Information
During major incidents, lose real-time information that guides evacuation and response.
Coordination Ability
Harder to coordinate with police response when you can't hear their communications.
Client Reporting
Cannot provide comprehensive area activity reports to clients.
Response Context
When police arrive at your location, you lack context about what they already know.
Real Impact
"After our city encrypted, we had an active shooter situation at a property adjacent to one we protect. We had no idea what was happening until employees reported gunshots. With scanner access, we would have known immediately and could have locked down our property and accounted for our staff. Instead, we were caught off guard."
— Security Director, Commercial Property Management
The False Promise of "Coordination"
Some departments claim private security can coordinate through other means:
Police say: "Just call dispatch for updates"
Reality: Dispatch is busy during incidents and can't provide real-time updates to every security company. Scanner monitoring requires no police resources.
Police say: "We have liaison programs"
Reality: Liaison relationships help but don't replace real-time awareness. Liaisons aren't available 24/7 or during dynamic incidents.
Industry Advocacy
The private security industry has both the motivation and credibility to advocate against police encryption.
Why Security Industry Voices Matter
- Professional credibility - Licensed, trained security professionals aren't "random scanner hobbyists"
- Economic impact - Security services represent billions of dollars and millions of jobs
- Complementary mission - Private security extends public safety; encryption undermines this
- Client relationships - Business clients want effective security, which requires information
Advocacy Actions
Industry Associations
Contact ASIS International, state security associations, and licensing boards about encryption's impact on operations.
Client Education
Help clients understand that encryption reduces security effectiveness. Property owners have political influence.
Police Liaison
Work with police contacts to advocate for maintaining some public access to routine dispatch.
Public Comment
When departments consider encryption, submit professional comments on operational impact.
Talking Points
"Private security protects critical infrastructure, commercial properties, and millions of workers. Scanner access makes us more effective partners to police. Encryption undermines this partnership."
"Our clients expect us to know what's happening around their properties. Encryption forces us to operate with less information, reducing the security we can provide."
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal for security guards to use police scanners?
In most states, yes. Private security personnel can legally use scanners on duty in most jurisdictions. Some states with mobile restrictions (like Florida) may have exemptions for licensed security professionals—check your state's specific laws and your security license terms.
What scanner features do security professionals need?
Security professionals benefit from scanners with multiple bank monitoring (listen to police, fire, and property management simultaneously), external speaker jacks for mobile patrol, good P25 digital decode for modern police systems, and weather alert capability.
Can security companies get access to encrypted police channels?
Generally, no. Encryption keys are restricted to law enforcement agencies. Some jurisdictions have interoperability agreements that give certain security operations limited access, but this is rare. Most private security cannot access encrypted police communications.
Should security companies oppose police encryption?
Yes. Private security loses critical operational awareness when police encrypt. Security firms should advocate for at least partial public access to routine police dispatch, as this improves coordination and response during incidents on protected properties.
What frequencies should security guards monitor?
Focus on: local police dispatch, fire/EMS dispatch, your company's internal frequencies, property management radio (if applicable), and weather alerts. If you protect specific facilities, add relevant frequencies like railroad police, campus police, or hospital security.
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