Police Department Partially Encrypted

Montrose Police Department

Montrose, Colorado

What you can do right now

Encryption Details

Encryption Type P25 AES-256
Scope Some talkgroups encrypted (37.5% per RadioReference data); others remain in the clear.
Technical Details P25

Verified Talkgroup Data

Verified Mar 6, 2026 Moderate confidence
8 Total Talkgroups
3 Encrypted
5 Unencrypted
38% Encrypted
Radio System: State of Colorado DTRS
View 3 talkgroups
DEC Alpha Tag Description Status
8073 Montrose PD 1 Police 1 Dispatch Encrypted
8075 Montrose PD 3 Police 3 Car/Car Encrypted
8076 Montrose PD Tac Police Tactical Encrypted

Verification Status

We do have per-talkgroup data for Montrose 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 Montrose 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

Montrose County, Colorado runs State of Colorado DTRS as shared infrastructure: 1 agencies, Montrose Police Department included, ride the same system and inherit the same encryption status rather than each having made a separate call.

Montrose County Context

Of the 3 public-safety agencies we track in Montrose County, Montrose Police Department is currently the only one we have flagged as encrypted.

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 Montrose Police Department radio encrypted?

Our database lists Montrose 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 Montrose Police Department on a police scanner?

Possibly. Our database lists Montrose 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 Montrose 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 Montrose 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 Montrose County officials are policies those officials can revisit when constituents press for it.

What can I do about Montrose Police Department encryption?

Put the question to whoever signs off on Montrose Police Department's radio budget: why full encryption rather than a delayed feed or tactical-only channels? File for the recordings and the decision documents alongside it, and link up with neighbours and local reporters in Montrose County so the ask arrives as a group rather than a one-off.

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