Police Department Fully Encrypted

Coleman Police

Midland, Michigan

What you can do right now

Encryption Details

Encryption Type P25 DES-OFB
Scope All Operations
Technical Details P25 DES-OFB

Verified Talkgroup Data

Verified Mar 6, 2026 Moderate confidence
13 Total Talkgroups
6 Encrypted
7 Unencrypted
46% Encrypted
Radio System: Michigan's Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS)
View 6 talkgroups
DEC Alpha Tag Description Status
42165 82ECPD1 Ecorse Police 1 Encrypted
42166 82ECPD2 Ecorse Police 2 Encrypted
42181 82GRCPD1 Gibraltar-Rockwood Consolidated Police 1 Encrypted
42182 82GRCPD2 Gibraltar-Rockwood Consolidated Police 2 Encrypted
42209 82TCPD1 Taylor Police 1 Encrypted
42210 82TCPD2 Taylor Police 2 Encrypted

Verification Status

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

Midland County Context

Coleman Police isn't an outlier here: 4 of the 4 public-safety agencies we track in Midland County are fully encrypted (100%), so most departments nearby have made the same move.

What This Means

This agency is listed in our database as encrypting all of its radio communications, including routine dispatch. The listing is unverified — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Coleman Police radio encrypted?

Coleman Police is listed in our records with P25 DES-OFB encryption — a listing we haven't yet verified against live talkgroup data. This agency is listed in our database as encrypting all of its radio communications, including routine dispatch. The listing is unverified — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database.

Can I listen to Coleman Police on a police scanner?

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

Why do agencies like Coleman Police encrypt their radio?

Departments typically point to officer safety and operational security. Neither claim tends to come with evidence specific to Midland 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 Midland County reverse the encryption decision?

Yes. Encryption is a policy choice made by department leadership or elected officials, not a technical requirement, so it can be reversed the same way. Public pressure, city council advocacy, and organized local coalitions have reversed encryption decisions elsewhere.

What can I do about Coleman Police encryption?

Ask for the paperwork first — the policy that authorised encryption for Coleman Police, and the recordings themselves — because a specific request is harder to wave away than a general complaint. Then take what you learn to a council meeting, and bring others from Midland County with you.

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