Police Department Partially Encrypted

Walker Police

Kent, Michigan

What you can do right now

Encryption Details

Encryption Type P25 ADP
Scope Some talkgroups encrypted (75% per RadioReference data); others remain in the clear.
Technical Details P25 ADP

Verified Talkgroup Data

Verified Mar 6, 2026 Low confidence
4 Total Talkgroups
3 Encrypted
1 Unencrypted
75% Encrypted
Radio System: Michigan's Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS)
View 3 talkgroups
DEC Alpha Tag Description Status
13524 41WKP Walker Police Car-to-Car Encrypted
42201 82RWPD1 Rockwood Police 1 Encrypted
42202 82RWPD2 Rockwood Police 2 Encrypted

Verification Status

We do have per-talkgroup data for Walker Police from the RadioReference API, and used it to set the encryption scope shown above — but no additional human-reviewed source (a live feed check or a dated news account) has been recorded for this record, so treat it as a data-quality correction rather than an independently confirmed verification. Check the live RadioReference database directly for current status.

If you monitor Walker 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.

Shared Radio System

This page is one of 2 built from the same underlying radio record: police department here shares Michigan's Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS) with 1 other department in Kent County, so the same traffic and the same encryption status show up on every one of those pages.

Kent County Context

Kent County is a mixed picture: 2 of 11 agencies we track here are fully encrypted (18%), which means some neighboring departments are still audible on a scanner.

What This Means

Our records list a mix here: some talkgroups encrypted, others not. The listing is unverified, so confirm what is audible at RadioReference.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Walker Police radio encrypted?

Our database lists Walker Police as using P25 ADP encryption, though this listing is unverified. Our records list a mix here: some talkgroups encrypted, others not. The listing is unverified, so confirm what is audible at RadioReference.

Can I listen to Walker Police on a police scanner?

Possibly. Our database lists Walker Police as encrypting some of its talkgroups while leaving others open, which would leave some channels accessible. The listing is unverified — check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.

Why do agencies like Walker Police encrypt their radio?

The standard justification nationwide is officer safety and operational security, regardless of whether a documented local incident ever required it. The tradeoff that follows is consistent too: public oversight drops, and reporters lose the ability to track police department response as it happens.

Can Kent County reverse the encryption decision?

Nothing technical prevents it. Walker Police operates encrypted because someone decided it should, and decisions of that kind get revisited when councils hear sustained, organised pressure rather than isolated complaints.

What can I do about Walker Police encryption?

Three things carry weight, in this order: a public-records request for Walker Police's encryption policy and radio recordings, a turn at the microphone during Kent County budget discussions, and finding the other people locally already asking the same question. Individually these are easy to deflect; together they are not.

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