3 of 10 Washtenaw County agencies are fully encrypted
10 public safety agencies in Washtenaw County, Michigan have encrypted their radio communications.
Radio encryption in Washtenaw County
Washtenaw County is notable for the mix of encryption in use: seven agencies run P25 DES-OFB, two use AES-256 and one uses ADP. Four of the ten encrypt everything monitored - Ann Arbor Police, Pittsfield Township Police, Washtenaw County Interoperability and the Washtenaw County Sheriff - while Chelsea, Milan, Northfield Township, Saline and Ypsilanti police encrypt tactical channels only, as does East Michigan State University. Nine of the ten records are verified against RadioReference; the sheriff's entry is not. Coverage runs over Michigan's Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS) and a ComSource Michigan DMR system. Of 120 catalogued talkgroups, 89 are still in the clear against 31 encrypted, so a scanner remains useful for a large share of monitored traffic in the county.
Compiled from this site's agency database. Encryption status changes without notice — confirm any specific agency on RadioReference.
Radio systems serving Washtenaw County
- ComSource Michigan DMR
- Michigan's Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS)
Of 120 talkgroups catalogued for Washtenaw County, 31 are encrypted and 89 remain in the clear. A scanner can still receive the unencrypted channels.
9 of 10 records here have been checked against a primary source; 1 has 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 Washtenaw County
Encrypted Agencies in Washtenaw County
| Agency Name | Type | Encryption | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor Police ✓ | Police | P25 DES-OFB | Fully Encrypted |
| Chelsea Police ✓ | Police | P25 DES-OFB | Tactical Only |
| East Michigan State University ✓ | University | P25 AES-256 | Tactical Only |
| Milan Police ✓ | Police | P25 DES-OFB | Tactical Only |
| Northfield Township Police ✓ | Police | P25 DES-OFB | Tactical Only |
| Pittsfield Township Police ✓ | Police | P25 AES-256 | Fully Encrypted |
| Saline Police ✓ | Police | P25 DES-OFB | Tactical Only |
| Washtenaw County Interoperability ✓ | Sheriff | P25 ADP | Fully Encrypted |
| Washtenaw County Sheriff | Sheriff | P25 DES-OFB | Partially Encrypted |
| Ypsilanti Police ✓ | Police | P25 DES-OFB | Tactical Only |
Related Case Studies
Learn more about police radio encryption issues in Michigan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Washtenaw County police radio encrypted?
3 of 10 agencies in Washtenaw County, Michigan are fully encrypted (30%), while 7 have partial encryption.
Can I listen to Washtenaw County Sheriff on a scanner?
The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office has encrypted their radio communications using P25 DES-OFB. Scanner monitoring of sheriff operations is no longer possible.
How many police departments in Washtenaw County are encrypted?
7 police departments in Washtenaw County have implemented some level of encryption, along with 2 sheriff offices, 0 fire departments, and 0 EMS agencies.
What encryption technology does Washtenaw County use?
The most common encryption type in Washtenaw County is P25 DES-OFB, used by agencies for secure communications. This encryption blocks public scanner monitoring.
Fight Encryption in Washtenaw County
Join the movement to restore transparency to public safety communications in Washtenaw County, Michigan.