Harvard University Police
Middlesex, Massachusetts
How we verified this
As of August 2026 both Harvard University campus police channels in RadioReference (484.0875 and 484.2625 MHz, tagged Law Dispatch) are listed as encrypted P25 (P25E), while the university's contract security channel remains unencrypted.
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
Middlesex County Context
Harvard University Police isn't an outlier here: 5 of the 6 public-safety agencies we track in Middlesex County are fully encrypted (83%), so most departments nearby have made the same move.
See every agency we track in Middlesex County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
Everything this agency transmits is encrypted, dispatch included. For anyone outside the department — residents, reporters, neighbouring responders — the channel is simply silent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Harvard University Police radio encrypted?
Yes — Harvard University Police's radio system runs on P25 DES-OFB encryption. Everything this agency transmits is encrypted, dispatch included. For anyone outside the department — residents, reporters, neighbouring responders — the channel is simply silent.
Can I listen to Harvard University Police on a police scanner?
No. Harvard University Police has fully encrypted their radio communications using P25 DES-OFB. No consumer scanner can decode encrypted transmissions.
Why did Harvard University Police encrypt their radio?
Departments typically point to officer safety and operational security. Neither claim tends to come with evidence specific to Middlesex County; what's verifiable is what's lost — journalists can't monitor police department activity in real time, and coordination with agencies that stay unencrypted gets harder.
Can Middlesex County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes. Whoever made this call for Harvard University Police 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 Harvard University Police encryption?
Contact the officials who oversee Harvard University Police's budget directly and ask why full encryption was chosen over partial alternatives. Pair that with a FOIA request for recordings and policy records, and look for an existing coalition in Middlesex County, or start one, since agencies respond differently to organized, sustained pressure than to individual complaints.