Dearborn Police
Wayne, Michigan
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
View 12 talkgroups
| DEC | Alpha Tag | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22261 | DPDTRU3 | Tactical Response Unit 3 | Encrypted |
| 22262 | DPDTRU2 | Tactical Response Unit 2 | Encrypted |
| 22263 | DPDTRU1 | Tactical Response Unit 1 | Encrypted |
| 42132 | 82DCDPD1 | Central Police Dispatch 1 | Encrypted |
| 42133 | 82DCDPD2 | Central Police Dispatch 2 | Encrypted |
| 42134 | 82DCDPD3 | Central Police Car-to-Car 3 | Encrypted |
| 42160 | 82DSDPD1 | South Police Dispatch 1 | Encrypted |
| 42161 | 82DSDPD2 | South Police Dispatch 2 | Encrypted |
| 42162 | 82DSDPD3 | South Police Car-to-Car 3 | Encrypted |
| 42272 | 343DPD2E | Dearborn/Melvindale Police 2 | Encrypted |
| 42275 | 343DPD3E | Dearborn/Melvindate Police 3 | Encrypted |
| 42284 | 343DPD1E | Dearborn/Melvindale Police Dispatch (Future Use) | Encrypted |
Verification Status
We don't yet have per-talkgroup data for Dearborn 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 Dearborn 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.
Wayne County Context
Dearborn Police isn't an outlier here: 12 of the 15 public-safety agencies we track in Wayne County are fully encrypted (80%), so most departments nearby have made the same move.
See every agency we track in Wayne County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
This agency is listed as encrypting tactical channels used for SWAT operations and sensitive investigations, with regular dispatch possibly still accessible. Confirm current status at RadioReference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dearborn Police radio encrypted?
Dearborn Police is listed in our records with P25 ADP encryption — a listing we haven't yet verified against live talkgroup data. This agency is listed as encrypting tactical channels used for SWAT operations and sensitive investigations, with regular dispatch possibly still accessible. Confirm current status at RadioReference.
Can I listen to Dearborn Police on a police scanner?
Possibly. Our database lists Dearborn Police as encrypting its tactical channels, which would leave some channels accessible. The listing is unverified — check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.
Why do agencies like Dearborn Police encrypt their radio?
Officer safety and operational security are the reasons agencies give. What rarely comes with that explanation is Wayne 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 Wayne County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes, and some departments already have. Because encryption here is a choice rather than a technical necessity, the path back runs through the same people who chose it: budget hearings, records requests, and residents who keep asking in public.
What can I do about Dearborn Police encryption?
Contact the officials who oversee Dearborn 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 Wayne County, or start one, since agencies respond differently to organized, sustained pressure than to individual complaints.