Police Department Partially Encrypted

Waterford Township Police Department

Oakland, Michigan

What you can do right now

Encryption Details

Encryption Type P25 AES-256
Scope Some talkgroups encrypted (66.7% per RadioReference data); others remain in the clear.
Technical Details P25 AES-256

Verified Talkgroup Data

Verified Mar 6, 2026 Low confidence
3 Total Talkgroups
2 Encrypted
1 Unencrypted
67% Encrypted
Radio System: Michigan's Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS)
View 2 talkgroups
DEC Alpha Tag Description Status
32518 63WTPOL1 Waterford Twp. Police: Dispatch Encrypted
32519 63WTPOL2 Waterford Twp. Police: Secondary Encrypted

Verification Status

We do have per-talkgroup data for Waterford Township Police Department 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 Waterford Township Police Department 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 Oakland County, so the same traffic and the same encryption status show up on every one of those pages.

Oakland County Context

Oakland County is a mixed picture: 9 of 18 agencies we track here are fully encrypted (50%), 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 Waterford Township Police Department radio encrypted?

Our database lists Waterford Township Police Department as using P25 AES-256 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 Waterford Township Police Department on a police scanner?

Possibly. Our database lists Waterford Township Police Department 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 Waterford Township Police Department encrypt their radio?

The reasons offered are almost always the same two: officer safety and operational security. Whether either was tested against a real Oakland County incident is rarely part of the public record, whereas the consequences are easy to observe — no real-time accountability, and neighbouring agencies still in the clear left working around the gap.

Can Oakland County reverse the encryption decision?

Nothing technical prevents it. Waterford Township Police Department 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 Waterford Township Police Department encryption?

Three things carry weight, in this order: a public-records request for Waterford Township Police Department's encryption policy and radio recordings, a turn at the microphone during Oakland 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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