Police Department Partially Encrypted

Littleton Police Department

Arapahoe, Colorado

What you can do right now

Encryption Details

Encryption Type P25 AES-256
Scope Some talkgroups encrypted (66.7% per RadioReference data); others remain in the clear.
Technical Details P25

Verified Talkgroup Data

Verified Mar 6, 2026 Moderate confidence
6 Total Talkgroups
4 Encrypted
2 Unencrypted
67% Encrypted
Radio System: State of Colorado DTRS
View 4 talkgroups
DEC Alpha Tag Description Status
3040 Littleton PD 1 Police 1 Dispatch Encrypted
3041 Littleton PD 2 Police 2 Encrypted
3042 Littleton PD 3 Police 3 Encrypted
3043 Littleton PD Det Police Detectives Encrypted

Verification Status

We do have per-talkgroup data for Littleton Police Department from the RadioReference API, and used it to set the encryption scope shown above — 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 Littleton 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

This page is one of 1 built from the same underlying radio record: police department here shares State of Colorado DTRS with 0 other departments in Arapahoe County, so the same traffic and the same encryption status show up on every one of those pages.

Arapahoe County Context

Arapahoe County is a mixed picture: 2 of 9 agencies we track here are fully encrypted (22%), which means some neighboring departments are still audible on a scanner.

What This Means

Our records list a mix here: some talkgroups encrypted, others not. The listing is unverified, so confirm what is audible at RadioReference.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Littleton Police Department radio encrypted?

Our database lists Littleton Police Department as using P25 AES-256 encryption, though this listing is unverified. Our records list a mix here: some talkgroups encrypted, others not. The listing is unverified, so confirm what is audible at RadioReference.

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

Possibly. Our database lists Littleton Police Department as encrypting some of its talkgroups while leaving others open, which would leave some channels accessible. The listing is unverified — check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.

Why do agencies like Littleton Police Department encrypt their radio?

The standard justification nationwide is officer safety and operational security, regardless of whether a documented local incident ever required it. The tradeoff that follows is consistent too: public oversight drops, and reporters lose the ability to track police department response as it happens.

Can Arapahoe County reverse the encryption decision?

It can. The radios support open and encrypted operation equally well, so this is a configuration and a policy, not a constraint — and policies set by Arapahoe County officials are policies those officials can revisit when constituents press for it.

What can I do about Littleton Police Department encryption?

Three things carry weight, in this order: a public-records request for Littleton Police Department's encryption policy and radio recordings, a turn at the microphone during Arapahoe County budget discussions, and finding the other people locally already asking the same question. Individually these are easy to deflect; together they are not.

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