Ontonagon County Sheriff/PDs
Ontonagon, Michigan
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference lists Ontonagon County police dispatch (66P911, 7095) as encrypted on MPSCS, while the county's fire/EMS dispatch, future county fire and narcotics talkgroups remain in the clear.
Encryption Details
What This Means
Encryption here is a mixed bag: some talkgroups are locked, others aren't. It varies by channel and by what the department is doing at the time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ontonagon County Sheriff/PDs radio encrypted?
Yes — Ontonagon County Sheriff/PDs's radio system runs on P25 AES-256 encryption. Encryption here is a mixed bag: some talkgroups are locked, others aren't. It varies by channel and by what the department is doing at the time.
Can I listen to Ontonagon County Sheriff/PDs on a police scanner?
Partially. Ontonagon County Sheriff/PDs encrypts some of its talkgroups while leaving others open, so some channels may still be accessible. Check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.
Why did Ontonagon County Sheriff/PDs encrypt their radio?
Officer safety and operational security are the reasons agencies give. What rarely comes with that explanation is Ontonagon 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 Ontonagon 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 Ontonagon County Sheriff/PDs encryption?
Ask for the paperwork first — the policy that authorised encryption for Ontonagon County Sheriff/PDs, 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 Ontonagon County with you.