5 of 6 Middlesex County agencies are fully encrypted
6 public safety agencies in Middlesex County, Massachusetts have encrypted their radio communications. 83% Encrypted
Radio encryption in Middlesex County
Six agencies are tracked in Middlesex County and all are logged as encrypting everything monitored, four on P25 DES-OFB and two on P25 AES-256. Three of the six records are unverified against RadioReference data — Harvard University Police, Holliston Police, and Lowell Police — while Cambridge Police, Cambridge Fire, and Boston College Police are verified. Traffic appears on the Commonwealth Of Massachusetts Interoperable Radio System (CoMIRS), the OneVoice Network, and a Massachusetts State Police system. Of 32 catalogued talkgroups, 9 are encrypted and 18 remain in the clear, so a scanner picks up part of the monitored traffic but none of the named departments' own channels on this record.
Compiled from this site's agency database. Encryption status changes without notice — confirm any specific agency on RadioReference.
Radio systems serving Middlesex County
- Commonwealth Of Massachusetts Interoperable Radio System (CoMIRS)
- OneVoice Network
- Massachusetts State Police
Of 32 talkgroups catalogued for Middlesex County, 9 are encrypted and 18 remain in the clear. A scanner can still receive the unencrypted channels.
4 of 6 records here have been checked against a primary source; 2 have not.
System and talkgroup counts come from this site's agency database and change without notice — confirm current status on RadioReference.
Encryption Technology Used in Middlesex County
Encrypted Agencies in Middlesex County
| Agency Name | Type | Encryption | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston College Police ✓ | Police | P25 DES-OFB | Fully Encrypted |
| Cambridge Fire ✓ | Fire | P25 AES-256 | Fully Encrypted |
| Cambridge Police ✓ | Police | P25 AES-256 | Fully Encrypted |
| Harvard University Police ✓ | Police | P25 DES-OFB | Fully Encrypted |
| Holliston Police | Police | P25 DES-OFB | Fully Encrypted |
| Lowell Police | Police | P25 DES-OFB | Partially Encrypted |
Related Case Studies
Learn more about police radio encryption issues in Massachusetts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Middlesex County police radio encrypted?
5 of 6 agencies in Middlesex County, Massachusetts are fully encrypted (83%), while 1 have partial encryption.
How many police departments in Middlesex County are encrypted?
5 police departments in Middlesex County have implemented some level of encryption, along with 0 sheriff offices, 1 fire departments, and 0 EMS agencies.
What encryption technology does Middlesex County use?
The most common encryption type in Middlesex County is P25 DES-OFB, used by agencies for secure communications. This encryption blocks public scanner monitoring.
Fight Encryption in Middlesex County
Join the movement to restore transparency to public safety communications in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.