Police Department Partially Encrypted

Hammond Police Department

Lake, Indiana

What you can do right now

Encryption Details

Encryption Type P25 AES-256
Scope All Operations except Dispatch 1
Technical Details P25 AES-256

Verified Talkgroup Data

Verified Mar 6, 2026 Moderate confidence
23 Total Talkgroups
7 Encrypted
16 Unencrypted
30% Encrypted
Radio System: Lake County Public Safety (IN), Indiana Project Hoosier SAFE-T
View 7 talkgroups
DEC Alpha Tag Description Status
10426 35-HPD-DISP Huntington Police Dispatch Encrypted
10427 35-HPD-TAC Huntington Police Tactical Encrypted
12393 84-THPD-CAR Terre Haute Police: Car-to-Car Encrypted
12395 84-THPD-DTF Terre Haute Police: Drug Task Force Encrypted
12396 84-THPD-SRT Terre Haute Police: SWAT Encrypted
12397 84-THPD-TAC1 Terre Haute Police: Tactical 1 Encrypted
12398 84-THPD-TAC2 Terre Haute Police: Tactical 2 Encrypted

Verification Status

We don't yet have per-talkgroup data for Hammond 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 Hammond 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.

Lake County Context

Lake County is a mixed picture: 2 of 7 agencies we track here are fully encrypted (29%), which means some neighboring departments are still audible on a scanner.

What This Means

This agency is listed as encrypting some communications while leaving others open. The per-channel breakdown is unverified — check RadioReference for current status.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hammond Police Department radio encrypted?

Hammond Police Department is listed in our records with P25 AES-256 encryption — a listing we haven't yet verified against live talkgroup data. This agency is listed as encrypting some communications while leaving others open. The per-channel breakdown is unverified — check RadioReference for current status.

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

Possibly. Our database lists Hammond 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 Hammond Police Department encrypt their radio?

Officer safety and operational security are the reasons agencies give. What rarely comes with that explanation is Lake 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 Lake County reverse the encryption decision?

Yes. Whoever made this call for Hammond Police Department can also unmake it; there's no technical lock-in. The approach that has worked elsewhere combines public-records requests, direct council pressure, and a coordinated local coalition.

What can I do about Hammond Police Department encryption?

Start local: show up when Lake County officials discuss the budget for Hammond Police Department, and ask specifically why full encryption was chosen over a delayed feed or tactical-only approach. File a FOIA request for recordings or policy documents, and connect with others nearby who want the same information — a coordinated ask carries more weight than an individual one.

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