Thursday August 21 2025

Turning The Corner @sbcoscanner

For the past 12 years, the Scotts Bluff County Scanner has been a public service made possible by Hale Multimedia and volunteers through the official broadcast provider of all scanner feeds, Broadcastify. 

I have personally been able to interact directly with Lindsay Blanton, the founder and CEO over the years and I can tell you that Broadcastify has been fantastic to work with. Not only do they provide the official broadcast licensing and broadcast infrastructure, but they also give us access to, and full use of, all archived broadcasts.  

For those in marketing, you understand how powerful this is. For instance, during a high traffic incident like a robot trying to enter a house with an active shooter situation, the traffic on our scanner reaches a point where it is one of the most listened to scanner feeds in the entire country, at that time.  Overall we HAVE reached #1 and most recently were #2 during the above referenced unfortunate incident.

Furthermore, there is an increased interest in the timeliness and honesty at which we put out when we report on something in the community. Along with this increased readership and listenership, we also have volunteer staff that are interested in pursuing the news business on a commercial basis. 

At Hale Multimedia we have been producing news and selling sponsorships along with other multimedia products for over 22 years. We know adversity and we are still here.

When we launched the scanner feed and facebook page back in 2009, we committed to keeping it going, despite our former rogue partner deleting our page at 7900 followers causing us to start over at 0 in August, 2019.  So be it, after just 2 years now, we are back up to our previous followership.

It's fun to hear the other local news reports when they reference scanner traffic. The likelihood that every news person has an expensive ($300-$600+) physical scanner is low. We venture to say that MOST of the official news reporters in the area probably get that scanner traffic through one of the dozens of apps that use our feed. Our feed supplies all those apps. If our feed is down, no one other than those who own a physical scanner, can hear anything.

This would be a good time to ask for donations to help keep the scanner going as a free service to the community, but I won't. I'll just leave the link here.

More good news; Scotts Bluff County Scanner is expanding! With this official transformation to a paid news agency we will be putting together a team consisting of local reporters and sales personnel. Andi has agreed to be our Publisher and I (Brian) will serve as Editor and Sales Manager/Trainer while longtime scanner admin JoAnn Paramo will serve as our Breaking News Editor.  Other personnel announcements will be made soon. If you are interested in becoming a reporter or sales representative for County Scanner News, please contact Brian or JoAnn.

Public Safety vs. Liberty; Where do we draw the line?

OPINION

by Jeff Blaha, for Scanner News

First and foremost we are a Constitutional Republic and there is nothing in the Constitution that allows the government to suspend rights in general like they are doing in some states now. The Supreme Court has dealt with exigent circumstances in a number of situations, the general rule is very temporary and by the least intrusive means. For example a police officer sees a suspicious car late at night, he can stop that vehicle with reasonable suspicion, detain the driver and occupants and conduct a short interview. Those terms are subject to court interpretation, if there was reasonable suspicion and the stop was the least intrusive to establish any further reason to investigate. I could give a hundred examples just remember short period of time and least intrusive action. 

In the case of someone who knows or should suspect they are infected with a serious disease and behaves in a reckless manner may constitute an assault or attempted assault, the key here is a victim. Someone wandering on a public beach during a pandemic is not in any way a health risk. 

You might say it's for the best that everyone stays home and that protects the public. At risk of being a heretic I ask "is it?".  Wouldn't it make more sense to actually quarantine the vulnerable and elderly? That would have been much more sustainable. We are now facing mass unemployment, loss of businesses permanently and a potential economic collapse. That certainly is not protecting the public. 

The experts can't agree, masks no masks, herd immunity or wait for a man made immunization. We have to go on with our lives at some point, there have never been guarantees in life only choices. With no certain cure in the near future and knowing this is not sustainable the government should relent on its human regulation policies and people will make the right choices for themselves as the founders intended.

Covid 19 Mask Recommendations UNMASKED

by Brian Hale, Scanner News

brian@halemultimedia.com

One of the primary controversies in the United States in the field of preventive medicine is whether or not to wear a mask to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.  It's a hot topic of conversation due to the confident insistence from both sides claiming to know what's best for us.  Let's dig deeper...

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

CDC also advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.  Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.

Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.

The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators.  Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

National Institute of Health (NIH)

https://www.niaid.nih.gov/news-events/nih-study-validates-decontamination-methods-re-use-n95-respirators

Although the CDC and the NIH list N95 respirator masks as single-use, here is there double take on that. They are giving us advice on how to DECONTAMINATE a mask for RE-USE. Please take note of the methods they determined to be effective enough to ensure successful decontamination, including UV LIGHT and High HEAT. 

NIH Study Validates Decontamination Methods For Re-Use of N95 Respirators ; Three Methods Effectively Sanitized Masks for Limited Re-Use

N95 respirators can be decontaminated effectively and maintain functional integrity for up to three uses, according to National Institutes of Health scientists. N95 respirators are designed for single-use and are worn by healthcare providers to reduce exposure to airborne infectious agents, including the virus that causes COVID-19.  The study was conducted in a controlled laboratory setting, and the results were posted on a preprint server today. The findings are not yet peer-reviewed but are being shared to assist the public health response to COVID-19.  

The study investigators are with NIH’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML) in Hamilton, Montana, part of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). With collaborators from the University of California, Los Angeles, they tested the decontamination of small sections of N95 filter fabric that had been exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Decontamination methods tested included vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP), 70-degree Celsius dry heat, ultraviolet light, and 70% ethanol spray. 

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/personal-protective-equipment-infection-control/n95-respirators-and-surgical-masks-face-masks#s4

It seems there is a big discussion as to WHO the mask is intended to protect. Many people are saying we wear the masks to protect others. That would make sense to most people. Well, here is what the NIH has to say about the reason for PPE or PERSONAL Protective Gear.

N95 respirators and surgical masks (face masks) are examples of personal protective equipment that are used to protect the wearer from airborne particles and from liquid contaminating the face. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also regulate N95 respirators. 

People with chronic respiratory, cardiac, or other medical conditions that make breathing difficult should check with their health care provider before using an N95 respirator because the N95 respirator can make it more difficult for the wearer to breathe. Some models have exhalation valves that can make breathing out easier and help reduce heat build-up. Note that N95 respirators with exhalation valves should not be used when sterile conditions are needed. 

All FDA-cleared N95 respirators are labeled as "single-use," disposable devices. If your respirator is damaged or soiled, or if breathing becomes difficult, you should remove the respirator, discard it properly, and replace it with a new one. To safely discard your N95 respirator, place it in a plastic bag and put it in the trash. Wash your hands after handling the used respirator.

US Department of Labor (DOL)

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/

OSHA is following CDC guidelines, but list PPE last on their list of Infection Control Procedures.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently recommends that Health Care Providers (HCP), who are providing direct care of patients with known or suspected COVID-19, practice infection control procedures. These include engineering controls (e.g., airborne infection isolation rooms), administrative controls (e.g., cohorting patients, designated HCP), work practices (e.g., handwashing, disinfecting surfaces), and appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, face shields or other eye protection, and gowns.

World Health Organization

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks

https://www.who.int/publications-detail/advice-on-the-use-of-masks-in-the-community-during-home-care-and-in-healthcare-settings-in-the-context-of-the-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov)-outbreak

The World Health Organization recommends wearing a mask only in specific instances;

• If you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with COVID-19.
• Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing.
• Masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
• If you wear a mask, then you must know how to use it and dispose of it properly.

The World Health Organization also put out a nice poster to help remind us that we should wear a mask, right? Wrong, there is no sign of mask recommendations on this marketing piece. Inconsistent and confusing, at best.

Johns Hopkins Medicine

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/for-johns-hopkins-patients.html#masks

Johns Hopkins is not shy about it when they admit that the government protocols are in place to make people 'feel' safer. It is NOT STANDARD INFECTION PREVENTION. We are told to wear masks to make people feel better, however, the masks are turning into a constant reminder of the fear they instilled in the public, and it has caused division among us.

Use of Face Masks by Johns Hopkins Medicine Staff

Effective April 3, 2020, all Johns Hopkins staff working where patients are present will wear a surgical, procedural or cloth face mask across any of Johns Hopkins Medicine healthcare facilities.

We recognize that this is a departure from standard infection prevention guidance. However, we find ourselves in extraordinary times, and, given current circumstances, we believe this guidance will help many employees and the public feel more comfortable. Our knowledge regarding COVID-19 is rapidly expanding, and the situation and degree of community transmission are also rapidly evolving.

Similar to influenza and other respiratory viruses, the virus that causes COVID-19 appears to be transmitted primarily through large respiratory droplets. Surgical masks provide protection against respiratory droplet spread. In contrast, fit-tested N95 respirators provide a higher level of filtration and are important in clinical situations where infectious droplets could become aerosolized. This primarily occurs in specific clinical situations, such as when a patient is intubated or undergoes bronchoscopy. Fit-tested N95 respirators are difficult to wear for long periods of time and are impractical for generalized use.

Furthermore, here are there recommendation in an article by Lisa Lockerd Maragakis, M.D., M.P.H. where the final recommendation is to follow the CDC guidelines on cloth facemasks.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/how-can-i-protect-myself-from-coronavirus

The American Medical Association (JAMA)

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2764955

Their recommendations are pretty consistent with the CDC, however a couple things seem to really stick out. 1) 'health individuals can consider wearing masks in public' does not sound like 'Masks are recommended or required'. 2) Physicians wear a mask to protect themselves from infectious patients during acute moments like in surgery, but this statement says we wear masks to prevent the spread of the virus (even if we don't know we have it) to others. This would indicate a recommendation with no expiration date. Bottom line, if you believe you need to wear a mask to protect others from a disease you may or may not have, then it's time to hang up the spurs unless you plan to be facemasked for THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. 3) Has anyone asked the question WHY kids under 2, who are usually full of sniffles and such are somehow magically safe or non-contagious? Of course they are not. The government just did not want to deal with 160 million pissed off moms, so the exception is there. I agree with the exception, FOR CONVENIENCE, but NOT if they are TRULY concerned about PUBLIC Safety.

Recent studies suggest that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be transmitted by infected persons even in the absence of symptoms of disease. While social distancing and good hand hygiene are the most important methods to prevent virus transmission, new guidelines state that healthy individuals can consider wearing masks in public settings, particularly when physical distancing is difficult (like in grocery stores or pharmacies). Primary benefits of wearing a mask include limiting the spread of the virus from someone who knows or does not know they have an infection to others. Masks also remind others to continue practicing physical distancing. However, nonmedical masks may not be effective in preventing infection for the person wearing them. Masks should not be worn by children younger than 2 years or by individuals who are unable to remove the mask by themselves or are unconscious.

Physicians across America are speaking up. Here is another video you might find interesting.

One thing we know is that we can be sure that people have different opinions on the subject of public safety. We hope this article helps you understand where the confusion might lie with the inconsistent messaging we are getting from varying sources. Please feel free to leave your comments and share this article. 

Plandemic - The Movie, The Controversy

by Brian Hale, Scanner News

brian@halemultimedia.com

The Scotts Bluff County Scanner and it's supporters have never backed down against controversy and corruption. This time is no different. It seems YouTube continues to remove videos from their platform that 'they' do not agree with. We know they are directed by the government, so that is the reason for the quotes around they.

Well, we have done some research over the past several months on the current medical situation in America. It is this author's full-blown conclusion that the people CANNOT TRUST the talking heads on TV. There is NO consistency in messaging and some of it is even unsafe! The media has done a terrible job with all their OPINIONS, rather than investigative journalism, they are turning us against each other with misinformation (a standard CIA tactic). However, this does create the desire for everyday people to investigate on their own, so they are finally.

Here is some material for you to digest. Some are saying this lady is not legit, but we can tell you that there are hundreds more like her out there that have NOT conjured up the COURAGE that she has to come forward. Who gives a living FLIP about a book deal when she will most certainly be dead for her courage?  You decide, but don't just watch the video. 

READ the history of medicine, specifically past pandemics if you want to understand what is going on now. It's not that much different than in 1918. The Great Influenza by John M. Barry is considered an authority on the pandemic of 1918, about the same time in history when the greatest medical institutions were born; The Rockefeller Institute, Johns Hopkins, and the CDC. I highly recommend this book from a historical standpoint as well as a deep study on the progression of the influenza virus throughout history. The book contains an eerie afterword from 2018 where 'social distancing' and the current CDC guidelines are listed, but I am sure that is entirely a coincidence... no different than Dr. Fauci's last statement (made in 2017) on this video clip assuring us their would be a pandemic coming soon.

Follow Dr. Fauci's career and decide for yourself before you start bashing a lady that went to jail for her beliefs. On the very surface, that should strike you as wrong, but it has happened to MANY scientists and doctors throughout history.  

Read about the beginnings of the FDA and its purpose. Many people do not realize their whole purpose was/is to protect the CHEMICAL industry. It's in their mission statement and founding papers when they were referred to as the US Chemical Company before softening the name to The Food and Drug Administration. Their job is to BLOCK anything that is not chemically created and deem it as unsafe. Look it up for yourself and THINK for yourself. These are my opinions based on facts I have studied for some time. Look into this with an open mind and see what happens.

Our Focus on Police & Crime

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about listening to a police scanner radio?

> Police and Crime
> Fire and Rescue
> Severe Weather
> Missing Persons
> Safety and Awareness

If you picked Police and Crime, then you'll like our coverage of this type of news.

We do much more than just share someone else's news, as some might think.

Not only do we share all relavent crime and police related stories, but in some permissible instances, we also provide current crime alerts before the story even breaks.

The scanner stream we provide is a Breaking News source that is sometimes used by others. We love it. We are all working together to inform the community and it does not matter who gets it first. Accuracy is more important than speed, everytime, in our book.

We also provide follow-up on certain crime stories, so that our readers get more than the standard press release.

We tend to dig deeper into the issues, looking for that which normally goes unnoticed.

We stand up for the little guy, against the bully and we take action.

We also despise gross injustice when it comes to the system.

We have several veteran criminal investigators with us at TEAM SCANNER who are relentless in their pirsuit of truth and are unbelievable at discovery of lies and half-truths.

You can expect some incredible journalistic and investigatory work to come out of our busy Police & Crime Division.

Another benefit of listening to and following the scanner is Neighborhood Awareness.  We believe it's better to be aware of your surroundings than to be blindsided. A thief, a sexual predator, a child abductor... don't you want to know if those kinds of crimes and criminals are nearby? You have a right to know.

Awareness and Preparedness are keys.

Our police officers are out there fighting crime, and doing things some can't imagine!

We back the blue and encourage you to.

Please remember, intentional or not, NEVER interfere in a crime or accident scene.

Our Missing Persons Division

by Brian Hale, SCANNER NEWS

The impact of our focus on Amber Alerts and Missing Persons cases has not gone unnoticed. Our team of dedicated volunteers at Scotts Bluff County Scanner have helped in the search and/or return of several runaways and other missing persons over the past year. We felt it was important to partner with Amber Alert and NMEMC (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children) to get their updates immediately so that we can pass them along to the community.

When we first looked into broadcasting the police scanner feed, we believed that most people would listen to the scanner and follow our Facebook page because of the coverage we provide on Police and Crime. Indeed, there is a real interest in finding out who's in trouble for what. Many of you may enjoy watching LivePD or COPS episodes, like we some of us do. That's not because we are criminals.  It's not because we want to go stick our noses in someone else's trouble.  We provide our service free of charge to the community because we care about people.

However, we did NOT realize how much impact we have in helping locate runaways and missing children and adults, and in praying for and consoling the family during the search process. After helping bring a couple of these runaways home, we realized how helpful the scanner project is to the community. We are humbled by the family members appreciation for what we do to help and we are very thankful to the members in our community for the help they give us. It's the people who have the power to get the information out there quickest.

If you would like to join Team Scanner, we have several fantastic people to work with in our Missing Persons Division headed up by Bobbie Braddock and Melissa Aguilar. Simply contact us in a variety of ways through social media or our website, or just email scanner@halemultimedia.com.

Vision, Mission, and Values

by Brian Hale, SCANNER NEWS

Our VISION

Our Vision is to develop the largest volunteer news organization on the planet by setting up scanner communities like ours all across the country.



Our MISSION

Our Mission is to stay informed as Citizens, to keep others informed when appropriate, to support our law enforcement officials and first responders, and to hold our public officials accountable.



Our VALUES

We believe that developing relationships with people in the community is a vital part of what we do. We believe in helping others, and we want to work with others that are willing to make a difference in the community.



Our OBJECTIVES

• To provide the highest quality listening stream possible with a full-time engineer as equipment host.
• To provide Breaking News and information in our 5 primary categories in a timely manner, with more of the story than the standard press release, through our Facebook page and other social media.
• To encourage adult conversation, even debate, without the typical bullying found on Facebook.
• To continue to build our network of volunteers who want to make a difference in the community by joining TEAM SCANNER.

Weather Spotter Training

by Brian Hale, Scanner News

(Scottsbluff, Neb) We take severe weather warnings very seriously at Scotts Bluff County Scanner. We are constantly scanning weather maps, radars, and other Warning Systems to help the community in case of any severe weather event. However, please keep in mind that we are a team of part-time citizen volunteers, and are NOT an official NOAA broadcast outlet. Our scanner license is to broadcast police and ems only, so we leave the weather to our friends at KNEB and the National Weather Service.

We are pleased to announce that we have 2 trained veteran weather spotters on our team with 4 others planning to attend the training shown below.  Our goal is to have multiple volunteer weather spotters in order to do the best job for the community. The more eyes we have out there to protect the community, the better! We highly recommend this course to anyone interested in severe weather.

There is also an online course offered through the website listed below which carries the description; 

"This course covers the basics of being a SKYWARN Spotter. The goal of the course is to provide baseline training for all spotters through multiple modules covering the procedures for spotting (including communication and spotter report criteria) and safety considerations for all hazards."

https://www.meted.ucar.edu/training_course.php?id=23

At the end of this course, learners should be able to:

• Describe the role of the SKYWARN Spotter

• Identify examples of proper safety while spotting during specific spotting scenarios

• Identify reportable events and criteria for reporting

• List the seven required pieces of information to communicate when making a spotter report

• Demonstrate how to make clear and succinct spotter reports

• Identify from a photo or video important visual features to report

This course is designed for any individual who is interested in becoming a registered SKYWARN Spotter or learning more about the SKYWARN Spotter program and is free of charge to all individuals.

For more information about the course, or to sign up online, visit https://www.meted.ucar.edu/training_course.php?id=23

All of us at the Scotts Bluff County Scanner look forward to serving the community during the upcoming severe weather season. Thank you for following and sharing our facebook page with everyone you know who has ever lived in the area.

Brian Hale, owner of Hale Multimedia and Mobile Marketing was born and raised in Scotts Bluff County and has been in the business of custom programming since 1978, building websites since 1996 and mobile applications since 2012.  He can be reached at 940 224-6315 or brian@halemultimedia.com

Help Stop Bullying

by Brian Hale, Chief Editor Scanner News

(Scottsbluff, Neb) Sad news has once again hit the community as we've lost another young person to a potential suicide by bullying. This isn't the first time it's happened either and our small community is not the only one affected in Nebraska. 

Nebraska Life Expectancy reports that the CDC statistics portray a glum outlook on the causes of death across the country. We were shocked to learn that Suicide is the #1 cause of death in Nebraska between the ages of 15-24, 25-34 and 35-44! 

*** NOTICE ***

The owners and volunteers of the Scotts Bluff County Scanner fullly support the Anti-Bullying campaigns in our community and nationwide, and are committed to generating more awareness of the dark truths caused by all types of bullying.

Suicide should be a serious problem for everyone, not just those directly involved (this time). 

Next time it could be us, or it could be you experiencing the pain of losing someone close because we failed to stand up and do something or say something. 

Why wouldn't you want to get involved in a kid's life?  

Isn't the possibility of making a positive difference, or maybe even saving a life, worth our effort? 

According the the CDC, "Students who bully others, are bullied, or witness bullying are more likely to report high levels of suicide-related behavior than students who report no involvement in bullying (Center for Disease Control, 2014)."

There are several really good websites that are packed with information of the impact of bullying. You'll find a great resource below at http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/bullying-and-suicide.html.

It's time to TAKE A STAND for these kids! Do something, say something, and please share this article and anything else we post on our facebook newsfeed, twitter feed, instagram account, or other social media networks.

Brian Hale, owner of Hale Multimedia and Mobile Marketing was born and raised in Scotts Bluff County and has been in the business of custom programming since 1978, building websites since 1996 and mobile applications since 2012.  He can be reached at 940 224-6315 or brian@halemultimedia.com

Our 5 Primary Categories (Divisions)

by Brian Hale, Chief Editor Scanner News

(Scottsbluff, Neb) The panhandle of Nebraska has always had a multitude of media choices and we understand that. We know that the Twin Cities does not need another news source, especially one similar to all the rest. With all the many local sources, combined with even more social media sources, we felt the community needed a FILTER.

Our human filters are the key.

Instead of being another news source competing for the press release, the Scotts Bluff County Scanner takes advantage of the numerous news sources to choose from, constantly scanning facebook and filtering out the stuff that does not fit into one of our 5 main categories below.

Once all the junk is filtered, our followers get only the news that applies to these categories.

1. Police and Crime
2. Fire and Rescue
3. Severe Weather
4. Missing Persons
5. Public Safety

OK, other than being a filter, how is Scotts Bluff County Scanner different?

• We not only share pertinent news stories from local and national news sources, but we also generate news on many occasions. 
• There have been many times that our community of followers makes us aware of potential news events. 
• Sometimes news develops from listening directly to the scanner. 
• There are even times when one of our volunteer citizen reporters are able to be on scene before anyone else. 
• As citizens, we also feel the duty to hold our public officials accountable by being the community watchdog that stands up for the common citizen. 

That's how Scotts Bluff County Scanner is different.

Thank you for Liking, Following and Sharing @sbcoscanner on facebook, twitter, instagram, and this article on Scanner News!

SBCS Terms of Usage

By viewing, using or interacting with Scotts Bluff County Scanner or any of it's agents or investigators, you are agreeing to our Terms of Usage.

SCOTTS BLUFF COUNTY SCANNER
TERMS OF USAGE as of MARCH 2018
================================

Established

We established our official Terms of Usage on March 1, 2018 for Scotts Bluff County Scanner, also known as SBCS at our first official organizational meeting. We feel that our policies are very straightforward and are based on common sense and decency.  Since these new Terms of Usage came into effect in 2018, you may find posts prior to March 1, 2018 that are not in accordance with our news terms. We encourage you to privately contact us to make us aware, so that we may then take appropriate action on the old post.  We try hard to avoid any posts that are inappropriate or slanted in either direction politically, or otherwise divisive in nature.

Our Rights

As the owners and administrators of Scotts Bluff County Scanner, we reserve the right to remove any visitor post to the page or comment that we deem inappropriate. This includes, but is not limited to, comments that appear bullying in nature, contain inappropriate language, are blatantly disrespectful toward an individual or a group, are racist, attacking or threatening.

SBCS reserves the right to "ban" anyone from our page for any reason, usually after review by at least two SBCS Board Officers.


Policy on Banned Users

If you have found yourself in the odd predicament of being banned from the SBCS facebook page, there is a way to possibly regain access. The SBCS Board of Directors is willing to review your case. Applicants will submit a written statement explaining why they believed they were banned, an apology for the action that resulted in the ban and a pledge to play nice.  The SBCS Board Officers will make the final decision and take appropriate action.


Posts You Don't Like

If you see any particular post you don't like because you disagree with it or in the reason why we posted it, you do not have to unfollow our page (or get banned for an inappropriate comment). Simply click on the little arrow in the top right of the post and click on "turn off notifications". That way you will not be bothered with updates from that post.  If you do not like us in general or just want to be critical of HOW we manage our page, then we suggest you do unfollow. This is not a popularity or beauty contest, and we are all volunteers with real jobs in the real world.

Public Safety and Crime Scene Integrity

The safety of our officers, first responders and the general public is a top priority at SBCS, especially during an active scene. We HIGHLY ENCOURAGE everyone to AVOID the scene, but IF you do find yourself at one, ALWAYS respect and obey the perimeter officers on duty.  You will learn more by staying home and simply listening to the scanner and following our news feeds. SBCS has a team of editors that are updating constantly, sometimes before other media sources in the area. Solving crimes and reconstructing accident scenes require the gathering of much evidence so crime scene integrity is a high priority.

We recommend you STAY AWAY,  LISTEN IN, FOLLOW ONLINE and INTERACT!


Community Involvement and Awareness

We believe the power of knowledge and community awareness is in the people of the community. We believe in a concept called Crowdsourcing. It's the people in the Community getting involved to make a difference.  We all know that those who pledge to Protect and Serve us are underpaid, understaffed and under appreciated and lately, under attack! We want to help.  We back the blue and we encourage the community to be involved in a way that discourages crime, helps those who are struggling and cooperates with law enforcement.

To get notifications on a post, do not use a period(.) to follow a post. To get notifications on a post, simply click the arrow in the top right corner of the post and then click "get notifications for this post".

Policy on Victim's Names and Other Sensitive Information


Our policy on Victim's names is to NEVER post anything heard over the scanner or social media. We do NOT post patient information on accident posts. First Responders and Dispatchers are NOT allowed to give names over the open broadcast channels, anyway. If we have a story on someone, it's because we have contacted the family directly and made absolute sure that we have their approval to post their name(s) or any other information. Our service contains a serious human element and we pledge to be compassionate and respectful.

We do allow family members to post updates on victims of accidents and/or their name and victims may post updates on themselves. SBCS reserves the right to hide or delete any comment that might infringe on a Victim or family's privacy, whether it be untimely or just inappropriate.


Policy on Photos


Please do not post crime or accident scene photos to our page. You may send them by messaging the page, using the Send Message button.

Posting Severe Weather photos to our page as a visitor or as a post is allowed unless other inappropriate.

Use caution while driving at all times, obeying local and state laws. We do NOT encourage taking photos while driving unless a hands free device or mount is used.


Policy on Fundraisers


Please do not post fundraisers or requests for fundraisers to our page. You may send them by messaging the page, using the Send Message button. We will discuss it and take appropriate action.