Police Department Partially Encrypted

Hattiesburg Police Department

Forrest, Mississippi

What you can do right now

Encryption Details

Encryption Type P25 AES-256
Scope Some talkgroups encrypted (20% per RadioReference data); others remain in the clear.
Technical Details P25 AES-256

Verified Talkgroup Data

Verified Mar 6, 2026 Moderate confidence
15 Total Talkgroups
3 Encrypted
12 Unencrypted
20% Encrypted
Radio System: Mississippi Wireless Information Network (MSWIN)
View 3 talkgroups
DEC Alpha Tag Description Status
31055 18-HPD B Hattiesburg Police - CH B NCIC Encrypted
31057 18-HPD E Hattiesburg Police - CH E Encrypted
31056 18-HPD C Hattiesburg Police - CH C Encrypted

Verification Status

We do have per-talkgroup data for Hattiesburg 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 Hattiesburg 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

Hattiesburg Police Department isn't on a radio system of its own: Mississippi Wireless Information Network (MSWIN) also carries 0 other agencies in Forrest County, Mississippi. Whatever encryption status applies here was set once, for the whole system, not agency by agency.

What This Means

This agency is listed as encrypting some communications while leaving others open. The per-channel breakdown is unverified — check RadioReference for current status.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hattiesburg Police Department radio encrypted?

Hattiesburg Police Department is listed in our records with P25 AES-256 encryption — a listing we haven't yet verified against live talkgroup data. This agency is listed as encrypting some communications while leaving others open. The per-channel breakdown is unverified — check RadioReference for current status.

Can I listen to Hattiesburg Police Department on a police scanner?

Possibly. Our database lists Hattiesburg 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 Hattiesburg Police Department encrypt their radio?

Officer safety and operational security are the reasons agencies give. What rarely comes with that explanation is Forrest 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 Forrest 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 Hattiesburg Police Department encryption?

Ask for the paperwork first — the policy that authorised encryption for Hattiesburg Police Department, 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 Forrest County with you.

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