Annunciation shooting leads Minneapolis to temporarily make police radio traffic public again

Minneapolis temporarily restored public access to police radio traffic to aid communication among law enforcement agencies following a mass shooting at Annunciation Church. The shooting, which occurred on August 27, resulted in the deaths of two children and injuries to 21 others. In May, the city had encrypted its police radios, limiting public access to officer communications to comply with federal regulations and enhance officer safety. Critics argue that this encryption harms transparency and accountability. The decision to unencrypt radios came shortly after the shooting, allowing agencies to coordinate their emergency responses effectively.

Office of Community Safety spokesman Brian Feintech confirmed the change was made to facilitate simultaneous communication on unencrypted channels. Governor Tim Walz deployed 14 State Patrol troopers and six Department of Natural Resources enforcement officers to patrol near schools and churches after the shooting. This incident highlights ongoing debates surrounding police communication practices and public transparency.