Ohio Action Guide
Fighting Encryption in the Buckeye State
Ohio's partial encryption status creates a window of opportunity. Columbus is encrypted, Cleveland and Cincinnati maintain partial access. The MARCS statewide system threatens to push more agencies dark. This guide shows you how to protect and expand scanner access across Ohio.
Ohio Encryption Landscape
Where Ohio stands and why there's still time to act
Fully Encrypted
Columbus, Ohio State Highway Patrol
Ohio's capital went fully encrypted on main dispatch. OSHP encrypted statewide in 2019. These serve as examples of what other cities could become.
Partial Encryption
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron
Ohio's other major cities maintain some public access. Main dispatch often remains open while tactical channels are encrypted. This is the ground to defend.
Largely Open
Hamilton County, Rural Ohio
Hamilton County Sheriff (Cincinnati metro) and most rural Ohio remains accessible. Smaller departments and volunteer agencies rely on open communications.
The Ohio Opportunity
Unlike states where encryption cascaded rapidly, Ohio's major cities have largely held at partial encryption. Cleveland's consent decree and Cincinnati's community oversight tradition create accountability pressure points. The window to preserve transparency is now, before MARCS migration pushes more agencies toward full encryption.
Ohio Open Government Laws
Your legal tools for fighting encryption
Ohio Public Records Act
ORC 149.43Ohio's version of FOIA. Use it to request encryption costs, decision memos, and officer safety incident documentation. Ohio has strong pro-disclosure precedent.
- No specific timeline: But "prompt" required; courts interpret as hours to days, not weeks
- Appeal to: County Court of Common Pleas or Attorney General's mediation program
- Attorney fees: Available if you prevail in court
- Penalties: $100/day statutory damages for denials
Ohio Open Meetings Act
ORC 121.22Requires public notice and open deliberation for government decisions. If encryption was decided behind closed doors, it may have violated the Sunshine Law.
- 24-hour notice required for regular meetings
- Executive session exceptions are narrow
- Meeting minutes must be available
- Violation remedy: Injunction, voided action, attorney fees
Key tactic: If your city encrypted without a public vote, check meeting minutes. Police equipment purchases over threshold amounts typically require council approval.
Sample Ohio Public Records Request
To: [City/County] Records Custodian
Subject: Ohio Public Records Act Request - Police Radio Encryption
Pursuant to the Ohio Public Records Act (ORC 149.43), I request copies of the following records:
- All documented incidents from January 1, 2019 to present where police scanner access resulted in officer injury, suspect escape, or operational compromise in [Jurisdiction].
- All budget documents, vendor quotes, contracts, and cost estimates related to police radio encryption systems, including MARCS system participation.
- All internal communications (emails, memos, meeting minutes) regarding police radio encryption decisions.
- Any policies or procedures regarding media access to police communications.
- All MARCS system planning documents, migration timelines, and interoperability assessments.
Please provide records in electronic format to [email]. If any records will be withheld, please cite the specific ORC exception for each denial.
Under ORC 149.43(B)(1), records must be provided promptly. I expect response within [reasonable timeframe based on request complexity].
Key Ohio Contacts
Who to call, write, and visit
Ohio General Assembly
State law could establish transparency requirements statewide, like Colorado HB21-1250. Ohio has 99 House members and 33 Senators.
Find Your State Representative
Ohio House of Representatives
Website: ohiohouse.gov
Phone: (614) 466-6842
Use the "Find My Representative" tool. Schedule district office meetings during legislative recesses.
Find Your State Senator
Ohio Senate
Website: ohiosenate.gov
Phone: (614) 466-4900
Senators represent larger districts and often have more staff capacity for constituent meetings.
Key Committees to Contact
- House Public Safety Committee - Jurisdiction over law enforcement policy and communications
- Senate Judiciary Committee - Police accountability and oversight issues
- House Finance Committee - Control over state funding that could incentivize transparency
- Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review - Oversees administrative rules including MARCS policies
MARCS System Administration
The Multi-Agency Radio Communication System (MARCS) is Ohio's statewide interoperability network. MARCS policy decisions affect encryption across the state.
Ohio Department of Administrative Services
MARCS is administered by ODAS, which sets policies for the statewide system.
Website: das.ohio.gov
MARCS Phone: (614) 644-9700
Request MARCS policy documents and encryption requirements via public records. Attend State Communications Advisory Council meetings.
State Communications Advisory Council
Advisory body for MARCS policy decisions. Includes representatives from public safety agencies.
Meeting info: Posted on ODAS website
Public meetings offer opportunities for comment on system policies affecting transparency.
Local Government
Ohio's home rule tradition means cities control their police policies. County commissioners control sheriff budgets.
City Council
Controls municipal police budgets and can set transparency requirements. Columbus (7 members), Cleveland (17 members), Cincinnati (9 members).
Sign up for agenda notifications. Encryption often appears under "public safety" or "communications" budget items.
County Commissioners
Three commissioners per county control sheriff budgets and policies. Budget approval required for major purchases.
County commissioners meet weekly in most Ohio counties. Find schedules on county websites.
Cleveland Consent Decree Context
How federal oversight affects encryption advocacy
The Tamir Rice Legacy
The 2014 shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice within seconds of police arrival became a defining moment in the national conversation about police accountability. The incident, captured on surveillance video, demonstrated how quickly lethal encounters can unfold.
Scanner access matters because: In rapidly evolving situations, public monitoring provides independent documentation of police response times, communications, and coordination. This real-time accountability is especially important in communities with histories of police violence.
Fighting MARCS System Encryption
Understanding Ohio's statewide radio network
What Is MARCS?
The Multi-Agency Radio Communication System (MARCS) is Ohio's statewide public safety radio network. Managed by the Ohio Department of Administrative Services, MARCS connects over 3,000 agencies across all 88 Ohio counties.
Coverage
Statewide P25 digital trunked system with 400+ tower sites providing coverage across Ohio.
Users
3,000+ agencies including police, fire, EMS, schools, hospitals, and utilities.
Encryption
MARCS supports encryption but does not mandate it. Individual agencies choose their encryption level.
The MARCS Encryption Threat
As agencies migrate to MARCS, some choose to encrypt communications that were previously open on legacy systems. The technical capability exists to encrypt, and the statewide infrastructure makes it easier for agencies to "go dark" without additional equipment purchases.
Advocacy Strategies
1. Monitor MARCS Policy
Attend State Communications Advisory Council meetings. File public records requests for MARCS policy documents. Track which agencies are migrating and their encryption decisions.
2. Target Migration Decisions
When your local agency announces MARCS migration, engage before encryption decisions are finalized. Budget hearings for MARCS equipment are intervention points.
3. Push for Transparency Policies
Advocate for state legislation requiring public notice and input before encryption decisions. Push for MARCS system policies that preserve public access on dispatch channels.
4. Interoperability Arguments
Fire departments and EMS often oppose police encryption due to coordination concerns. Document interoperability issues and recruit fire/EMS allies.
MARCS Records to Request
- MARCS participation agreements for your jurisdiction
- Agency encryption policies and settings
- Migration timelines and planning documents
- Interoperability assessments with fire/EMS
- State Communications Advisory Council meeting minutes
Local Actions
What you can do in your Ohio community
Columbus
EncryptedPopulation: 900,000+ (Ohio's largest city)
Status: Columbus Division of Police encrypted main dispatch in 2021. Tactical channels were already encrypted.
What to Do
- Push for reversal: Palo Alto proves encryption can be reversed with sustained advocacy
- Target City Council: Seven members control police budget and policy
- Document harm: Collect stories from journalists, residents, and community groups affected by encryption
- Franklin County: County sheriff has different encryption status; prevent expansion
Key Contacts
- Columbus City Council: columbus.gov/council
- Franklin County Commissioners: franklincountyohio.gov
Cleveland
PartialPopulation: 370,000 (metro area 2M+)
Status: Main dispatch accessible via GCRCN. Tactical channels encrypted. Some suburban agencies vary.
What to Do
- Defend current access: Frame preservation as consistent with consent decree reforms
- Monitor transition: As federal oversight ends, watch for encryption expansion attempts
- Cuyahoga County: 17-member City Council plus county structure creates multiple advocacy points
- Community Police Commission: Engage the oversight body established by consent decree
Key Contacts
- Cleveland City Council: clevelandcitycouncil.org
- Cuyahoga County Council: council.cuyahogacounty.us
- Community Police Commission: clevelandcpc.org
Cincinnati
PartialPopulation: 310,000 (metro area 2.2M tri-state)
Status: Mixed encryption status. Some channels accessible, others encrypted. Hamilton County Sheriff largely open.
What to Do
- Hamilton County advantage: Sheriff maintains open operations; use as model
- Citizen Complaint Authority: Cincinnati has civilian oversight; connect encryption to accountability
- Tri-state coordination: Cincinnati metro crosses into Kentucky and Indiana; complexity favors open systems
- Nine-member council: Smaller council means each vote matters more
Key Contacts
- Cincinnati City Council: cincinnati-oh.gov/council
- Hamilton County Commissioners: hamiltoncountyohio.gov
- Citizen Complaint Authority: cincinnati-oh.gov/cca
Toledo
PartialPopulation: 270,000
Status: Partial encryption implemented 2022. Northwest Ohio generally more open than southern metro areas.
What to Do
- Prevent expansion: Partial encryption is the line to hold
- Lucas County: County-level coordination with sheriff and other agencies
- Media partnerships: Toledo media market covers significant portion of northwest Ohio
- University presence: University of Toledo and Bowling Green create stakeholder communities
Key Contacts
- Toledo City Council: toledo.oh.gov/government/city-council
- Lucas County Commissioners: co.lucas.oh.us
Akron
PartialPopulation: 190,000
Status: Expanded encryption following 2022 Jayland Walker incident. Critical moment for accountability advocacy.
What to Do
- Accountability framing: Walker case demonstrates need for transparency, not secrecy
- Community coalition: Civil rights groups active in Akron post-Walker
- Summit County: County-level advocacy alongside city efforts
- Prevent further encryption: Post-incident expansion must be reversed
Key Contacts
- Akron City Council: akronohio.gov/city-council
- Summit County Council: co.summit.oh.us
Ohio Public Records Tips
No Fee for Inspection
You can inspect records at no charge. Only copying fees may apply. Request to review documents in person to avoid costs.
Prompt Response Required
Ohio law requires "prompt" response. Courts have interpreted this as hours to days for simple requests. Document response times.
Statutory Damages
If records are unlawfully denied, you may recover $100 per day in statutory damages plus attorney fees if you prevail in court.
AG Mediation
Before filing suit, consider the Ohio Attorney General's public records mediation program. It's free and can resolve disputes without litigation.
Ohio Media & Coalition Allies
Build your advocacy network
Media Organizations
Ohio News Media Association
Represents newspapers and digital news outlets across Ohio. Has lobbied on open government and press access issues.
Website: ohionews.org
Request ONMA support for scanner access. They can coordinate editorial board outreach statewide.
Ohio Association of Broadcasters
Represents radio and TV stations. Broadcasters depend on scanner access for breaking news coverage.
Website: oab.org
Contact news directors at local stations. They lose competitive advantage when encryption blocks breaking news.
Major Ohio Newsrooms
Columbus Dispatch, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Cincinnati Enquirer, Toledo Blade, and Akron Beacon Journal all have stakes in scanner access.
Pitch encryption stories to investigative reporters. Editorial boards can influence local officials.
Civil Liberties & Advocacy
ACLU of Ohio
Active on police accountability issues. Has engaged on Cleveland consent decree and statewide policing reform.
Website: acluohio.org
May provide legal guidance and coalition support.
Ohio Organizing Collaborative
Statewide coalition working on criminal justice reform and community advocacy.
Website: ohorganizing.org
Connects local groups across Ohio for coordinated campaigns.
Policy Matters Ohio
Research and advocacy on public policy issues. Has capacity to analyze budget and policy implications.
Website: policymattersohio.org
Request analysis of encryption costs and transparency impacts.
Community Oversight Bodies
Cleveland Community Police Commission
Established under consent decree. Has authority to make recommendations on police policies.
Website: clevelandcpc.org
Attend public meetings. Request commission review of encryption impacts on accountability.
Cincinnati Citizen Complaint Authority
Independent civilian oversight of Cincinnati police. Reviews complaints and policy issues.
Website: cincinnati-oh.gov/cca
Connect encryption to oversight effectiveness. Secrecy undermines civilian review.
Fire/EMS Allies
Ohio Fire Chiefs' Association
Fire chiefs have interoperability concerns when police encrypt without coordination.
Contact your local fire chief. Document any coordination issues from encryption.
Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters
Union can provide political support and credibility on public safety arguments.
Frame as public safety coordination issue. Fire/EMS voices carry weight with officials.
Ohio-Specific Resources
Everything you need to fight encryption in Ohio
Ohio Records Templates
Public records request templates for ORC 149.43
Ohio Encryption Status
Current encryption status by agency
Testimony Scripts
Ready for city council or commissioners
Cleveland Deep Dive
Consent decree and accountability context
Hybrid Alternatives
Proposals officials can accept
90-Day Campaign
Complete action timeline
Ohio Government Quick Links
- Find Your Legislators: legislature.ohio.gov (use "Find My Legislators")
- Ohio Attorney General: ohioattorneygeneral.gov (public records mediation)
- MARCS Information: das.ohio.gov/marcs
- County Auditor Sites: Search "[county name] auditor ohio" for local government info
- Ohio Municipal League: omlohio.org (city government resources)
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