Police Department In the Clear — Per RadioReference Data 2026-09-28

Fayetteville Police Department

Washington, Arkansas

What you can do right now

Encryption Details

Encryption Type P25 AES-256
Scope Most operations except for Dispatch and records
Technical Details P25 AES-256

Verified Talkgroup Data

Verified Mar 6, 2026 Low confidence
3 Total Talkgroups
0 Encrypted
3 Unencrypted
0% Encrypted
Radio System: Arkansas Wireless Information Network (AWIN)

Verification Status

We do have per-talkgroup data for Fayetteville Police Department from the RadioReference API, and used it to correct this listing’s encryption status — but no additional human-reviewed source (a live feed check or a dated news account) has been recorded for this record, so treat it as a data-quality correction rather than an independently confirmed verification. Check the live RadioReference database directly for current status.

If you monitor Fayetteville Police Department directly or have more current information, the fastest way to fix this is to update the RadioReference Wiki entry — our data pulls from there and from the RadioReference API on a regular refresh cycle.

Shared Radio System

Worth knowing before reading this as specific to Fayetteville Police Department: Arkansas Wireless Information Network (AWIN) is shared county-wide or regional infrastructure, also used by 0 other agencies in Washington County — one radio system, several agency pages.

What This Means

This agency was previously listed as encrypted, but its own RadioReference talkgroup data (reviewed 2026-09-28) shows 0% of its talkgroups actually encrypted. Any scanner can receive it — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database, since encryption decisions can change.

See encryption status nationwide Interactive map showing which US police departments have encrypted their radios. Open the encryption map →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fayetteville Police Department radio encrypted?

No. Despite earlier listings, Fayetteville Police Department broadcasts in the clear. This agency was previously listed as encrypted, but its own RadioReference talkgroup data (reviewed 2026-09-28) shows 0% of its talkgroups actually encrypted. Any scanner can receive it — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database, since encryption decisions can change.

Can I listen to Fayetteville Police Department on a police scanner?

Yes. Fayetteville Police Department's own RadioReference talkgroup data shows its dispatch broadcasting in the clear — any scanner can receive it. Check RadioReference for frequencies and current status.

Why do agencies like Fayetteville Police Department encrypt their radio?

Officer safety and operational security are the reasons agencies give. What rarely comes with that explanation is Washington County-specific evidence that open communications ever caused a problem, while the loss of public oversight and the friction with still-unencrypted neighboring agencies are both immediate and real.

Can Washington County reverse the encryption decision?

Yes, and some departments already have. Because encryption here is a choice rather than a technical necessity, the path back runs through the same people who chose it: budget hearings, records requests, and residents who keep asking in public.

What can I do about Fayetteville Police Department encryption?

Contact the officials who oversee Fayetteville Police Department's budget directly and ask why full encryption was chosen over partial alternatives. Pair that with a FOIA request for recordings and policy records, and look for an existing coalition in Washington County, or start one, since agencies respond differently to organized, sustained pressure than to individual complaints.

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