Police Department Fully Encrypted

Arcadia Police Department

Hamilton, Indiana

What you can do right now

Encryption Details

Encryption Type P25 AES-256
Scope All Operations
Technical Details P25 AES-256

Verified Talkgroup Data

Verified Mar 6, 2026 Moderate confidence
26 Total Talkgroups
4 Encrypted
1 Mixed
21 Unencrypted
17% Encrypted
Radio System: Metropolitan Emergency Services Agency (MESA) (Formerly IDPS), Indiana Project Hoosier SAFE-T
View 5 talkgroups
DEC Alpha Tag Description Status
10757 IND APD-OP3 Police: Special Operations Mixed
48013 48 APD TAC1 Police: Tactical 1 Encrypted
48012 48 APD DISP 2 Police: Dispatch 2 Encrypted
48014 48 APD TAC2 Police: Tactical 2 Encrypted
12693 76-APD INFO Angola Police: Records Encrypted

Verification Status

We don't yet have per-talkgroup data for Arcadia Police Department from the RadioReference API. The encryption scope and type above come from the RadioReference Wiki, which is community-maintained rather than independently confirmed channel-by-channel. Our automated matching put this at moderate confidence (70%) based on how closely the wiki listing matches this agency's name and county.

If you monitor Arcadia 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.

Hamilton County Context

Arcadia Police Department isn't an outlier here: 8 of the 8 public-safety agencies we track in Hamilton County are fully encrypted (100%), so most departments nearby have made the same move.

What This Means

Our records list every channel this agency runs as encrypted, including day-to-day dispatch. That listing hasn't been verified against live talkgroup data, so confirm it at RadioReference before relying on it.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Arcadia Police Department radio encrypted?

Our database lists Arcadia Police Department as using P25 AES-256 encryption, though this listing is unverified. Our records list every channel this agency runs as encrypted, including day-to-day dispatch. That listing hasn't been verified against live talkgroup data, so confirm it at RadioReference before relying on it.

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

Likely not, if the listing is accurate: our database lists Arcadia Police Department as fully encrypted using P25 AES-256, which no consumer scanner can decode. The listing is unverified — check the live RadioReference database for current status.

Why do agencies like Arcadia Police Department encrypt their radio?

The reasons offered are almost always the same two: officer safety and operational security. Whether either was tested against a real Hamilton County incident is rarely part of the public record, whereas the consequences are easy to observe — no real-time accountability, and neighbouring agencies still in the clear left working around the gap.

Can Hamilton County reverse the encryption decision?

Nothing technical prevents it. Arcadia Police Department operates encrypted because someone decided it should, and decisions of that kind get revisited when councils hear sustained, organised pressure rather than isolated complaints.

What can I do about Arcadia Police Department encryption?

File a FOIA request for Arcadia 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 Hamilton 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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