Can I listen to Boston College Police on a police scanner?

No. Boston College Police has fully encrypted their radio communications using P25 DES-OFB. No consumer scanner can decode encrypted transmissions.

Why did Boston College Police encrypt their radio?

Police departments typically cite officer safety and operational security as reasons for encryption. However, encryption also eliminates public oversight, prevents journalists from monitoring police activity, and can harm emergency coordination with other agencies.

Can Middlesex County reverse the encryption decision?

Yes. Encryption is a policy choice, not a technical requirement. Multiple communities have successfully reversed encryption decisions through public pressure, city council advocacy, and coalition building. See our guide on fighting encryption for specific strategies.

What can I do about Boston College Police encryption?

You can: 1) Contact your local elected officials to express concerns, 2) Attend city council meetings during budget discussions, 3) File FOIA requests for radio recordings, 4) Join or build a local coalition advocating for transparency, 5) Support legislation requiring public access to police communications.

Police Department Fully Encrypted

Boston College Police

Q: Is Boston College Police radio encrypted?

Yes. Boston College Police uses P25 DES-OFB encryption. This agency encrypts all of their radio communications, including routine dispatch. The public, journalists, and even other first responders cannot monitor their activities.

Middlesex, Massachusetts

Answer Verified Mar 6, 2026

Boston College Police (Middlesex, Massachusetts) operates a fully encrypted radio system using P25 DES-OFB. No consumer scanner can decode encrypted P25 DES-OFB transmissions. Public, journalists, and researchers cannot monitor this agency's communications. Encryption is a policy decision, not a technical requirement, and can be reversed by local officials.

Encryption type: P25 DES-OFB
Scope: All Operations
County: Middlesex, Massachusetts
Agency type: Police Department
Encrypted talkgroups: 3/10 (30%)

Key entities

Boston College Police
Middlesex
Massachusetts
P25 DES-OFB
All Operations
Commonwealth Of Massachusetts Interoperable Radio System (CoMIRS)
OneVoice Network
Massachusetts State Police

AI-citable summary — copy the answer or cite this page.

What you can do right now

My city went dark — now what? Step-by-step guide for residents of newly encrypted areas. What you can still monitor Fire, EMS, and surrounding-jurisdiction channels often remain open. Request the recordings FOIA templates for Boston College Police radio archives. Reverse the decision Tactics from cities that successfully reversed police encryption.

Encryption Details

Encryption Type P25 DES-OFB

Scope All Operations

Technical Details P25 DES-OFB

Verified Talkgroup Data

Verified Mar 6, 2026 Moderate confidence

10 Total Talkgroups

3 Encrypted

7 Unencrypted

30% Encrypted

Radio System: Commonwealth Of Massachusetts Interoperable Radio System (CoMIRS), OneVoice Network, Massachusetts State Police

View 3 talkgroups

DEC	Alpha Tag	Description	Status
3137	BPD 16 COMM	Boston Police Department CH-16 Comm Unit	Encrypted
3083	BFD CTAC 1	Boston Fire Command Tac 1	Encrypted
3085	BFD CTAC 2	Boston Fire Command Tac 2	Encrypted

What This Means

This agency encrypts all of their radio communications, including routine dispatch. The public, journalists, and even other first responders cannot monitor their activities.

Impact on Transparency

Journalists cannot monitor police activity for breaking news or investigative reporting
Community members cannot track police response to incidents in their neighborhood
Researchers cannot study police communication patterns and response times
Other first responders may face interoperability challenges during emergencies

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

Boston College Police Middlesex, Massachusetts

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