Police Department Partially Encrypted

Cocoa Police Department

Brevard, Florida

What you can do right now

Encryption Details

Encryption Type P25 AES-256
Scope Some talkgroups encrypted (26.9% per RadioReference data); others remain in the clear.
Technical Details P25 Phase II AES-256

Verified Talkgroup Data

Verified Mar 6, 2026 Moderate confidence
26 Total Talkgroups
7 Encrypted
19 Unencrypted
27% Encrypted
Radio System: Brevard County Government, Brevard County Government (P25)
View 7 talkgroups
DEC Alpha Tag Description Status
1425 Cocoa PD Dispatc Police Dispatch Encrypted
1426 Cocoa PD TTY Police Teletype Encrypted
1427 Cocoa PD Tac 1 Police Tactical 1 Encrypted
1428 Cocoa PD Tac 2 Police Tactical 2 Encrypted
1449 Cocoa FD Primary Fire Dispatch Encrypted
1430 Cocoa PD M/A Police M/A with Rockledge Encrypted
1450 Cocoa FD Tac30 Fire Tactical 30 Encrypted

Verification Status

We do have per-talkgroup data for Cocoa 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 Cocoa 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 2 built from the same underlying radio record: police department here shares Brevard County Government / Brevard County Government (P25) with 1 other department in Brevard County, so the same traffic and the same encryption status show up on every one of those pages.

Brevard County Context

Brevard County is a mixed picture: 5 of 14 agencies we track here are fully encrypted (36%), 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 Cocoa Police Department radio encrypted?

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

Possibly. Our database lists Cocoa 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 Cocoa 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 Brevard County reverse the encryption decision?

Yes — nothing about the underlying radio technology forces this. It's a decision Brevard County officials made and can revisit, and other communities have pushed departments back toward open channels through sustained council pressure and coalition-building.

What can I do about Cocoa Police Department encryption?

File a FOIA request for Cocoa Police Department's radio recordings and encryption-decision paperwork, then show up to speak at a council or commission meeting. Find other residents or journalists in Brevard County who want the same access — state legislation requiring public radio access is the longer-term fix, but organized local pressure is what usually moves the needle first.

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