Airport Authority In the Clear — Per RadioReference Data 2026-09-28

Wayne County Airport Authority

Wayne, Michigan

What you can do right now

Encryption Details

Encryption Type P25 DES-OFB
Scope All Law Enforcement, Fire, and Private Security
Technical Details P25 DES-OFB

Verified Talkgroup Data

Verified Mar 6, 2026 Moderate confidence
1 Total Talkgroups
0 Encrypted
1 Unencrypted
0% Encrypted
Radio System: Michigan's Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS)

Verification Status

We do have per-talkgroup data for Wayne County Airport Authority from the RadioReference API, and used it to correct this listing’s encryption status — 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 Wayne County Airport Authority 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: airport authority here shares Michigan's Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS) with 1 other department in Wayne County, so the same traffic and the same encryption status show up on every one of those pages.

Wayne County Context

Wayne County is a mixed picture: 3 of 15 agencies we track here are fully encrypted (20%), which means some neighboring departments are still audible on a scanner.

What This Means

This agency was previously listed as encrypted, but its own RadioReference talkgroup data (reviewed 2026-09-28) shows 0% of its talkgroups actually encrypted. Any scanner can receive it — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database, since encryption decisions can change.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wayne County Airport Authority radio encrypted?

No. Despite earlier listings, Wayne County Airport Authority broadcasts in the clear. This agency was previously listed as encrypted, but its own RadioReference talkgroup data (reviewed 2026-09-28) shows 0% of its talkgroups actually encrypted. Any scanner can receive it — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database, since encryption decisions can change.

Can I listen to Wayne County Airport Authority on a police scanner?

Yes. Wayne County Airport Authority's own RadioReference talkgroup data shows its dispatch broadcasting in the clear — any scanner can receive it. Check RadioReference for frequencies and current status.

Why do agencies like Wayne County Airport Authority encrypt their radio?

The reasons offered are almost always the same two: officer safety and operational security. Whether either was tested against a real Wayne 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 Wayne County reverse the encryption decision?

It can. The radios support open and encrypted operation equally well, so this is a configuration and a policy, not a constraint — and policies set by Wayne County officials are policies those officials can revisit when constituents press for it.

What can I do about Wayne County Airport Authority encryption?

File a FOIA request for Wayne County Airport Authority's radio recordings and encryption-decision paperwork, then show up to speak at a council or commission meeting. Find other residents or journalists in Wayne County who want the same access — state legislation requiring public radio access is the longer-term fix, but organized local pressure is what usually moves the needle first.

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