![]() Indianapolis crime: Tracking every homicide in 2023 The law and privacy concerns (Police) are public servants who are supposed to look out for all of us and shouldn’t take this away.” “We use whatever tools are available and scanner apps have been all positive for us in getting real-time information. "Technology is evolving everywhere and this is going backward,” said Ang Malone, who has headed the Decatur Township Neighborhood Crime Watch for seven years. With the prevalence of mass shootings in public places or catastrophic natural disasters, the scanners are more useful than ever as a tool that can save lives, they say. Residents assert the scanners prevent speculation rather than spread it and note that police routinely encrypt sensitive information - for example, during a SWAT operation - and don't need to shut down the whole system. “This helps them when they ask us if we ‘see something to say something’.” “We are not getting in the way of police,” said Tabitha Barnett, who heads the Twin Aire crime watch on the southeast side. They say it puts residents on the lookout when a crime has just been committed. Some crime watches post the alerts on their Facebook pages or Nextdoor app to inform members. Several crime watch groups use the Citizens app, which transmits scanner communications and issues alerts. The change comes as technology has conditioned the public to expect real-time information at its fingertips through a plethora of social media platforms. The public has a right to know what's happening in the city in real-time.” “How are we supposed to know what they are doing? During a time of great mistrust and tension between law enforcement and communities of color restricting access to police scanners will make it seem like the police are hiding their activities from the public. Charles Harrison, whose Ten Point Coalition in Indianapolis has been responding to shooting scenes for 15 years to help keep peace in their immediate aftermath, said encryption would “make it impossible for us to do our job.” ![]() Impacts on crime watch, prevention efforts One Democrat has made opposition to it part of her crime platform and five others from both parties say they are against a full-scale encryption policy. Indianapolis' mayoral candidates are weighing in the possible move, as well. Others are worried the move gives police license to operate in secrecy. And the move has some residents and neighborhood crime watch groups concerned that an essential alert system is being taken away. People who run those sites and their users argue the claims of nefarious use are exaggerated and that the benefits to the public far outweigh the harm. They also said public reporting immediately on often unconfirmed police communications can spread dangerous speculation and inaccurate information. Officials said the prevalence of scanner apps makes it easy for criminals to monitor police movements or protestors to gauge police strategy in volatile situations. Louisville, Denver and Chicago are among cities that have or are planning to encrypt police communications. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is considering encrypting the communications, as well, though no details have been provided for how and when that might happen. Hendricks County has put publicly released police and fire calls on a 15-minute delay. Others are reading: Family, clergy want DOJ to investigate Herman Whitfield III's death in police custodyįor her, the scanner updates are an essential public amenity in a fast-information age.īut beginning in July, Hamilton County will block the public and media from tuning into the police radio traffic, citing officer safety and privacy of victims as primary concerns. ![]() "It is incredibly useful in getting me notifications about traffic accidents and other information important to me so I can make a decision where to go, what to avoid," said Gutreuter, of Noblesville. Not directly, but Gutreuter, like thousands of other residents in Central Indiana, receives social media alerts from a website that monitors emergency calls about not just crime, but weather-related incidents like downed power lines and flooded roads. The 50-year-old mother of three said the fastest and most useful information she gets comes from police and fire scanners. Wen Gutreuter considers herself a safety-conscious resident who likes to stay abreast of news in her community. ![]()
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