Barnegat Township Police
Ocean, New Jersey
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference's Ocean County (P25) system listing flags both Barnegat Township police talkgroups, dispatch and tactical, as fully encrypted, on a system whose countywide fire and EMS talkgroups remain in the clear.
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
View 2 talkgroups
| DEC | Alpha Tag | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5095 | Barnegat PD Disp | Police Dispatch | Encrypted |
| 5096 | Barnegat PD Tac | Police Tac | Encrypted |
Ocean County Context
Barnegat Township Police isn't an outlier here: 15 of the 17 public-safety agencies we track in Ocean County are fully encrypted (88%), so most departments nearby have made the same move.
See every agency we track in Ocean County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
All traffic, including the day-to-day dispatch that used to be the public's window into police activity, now runs encrypted. Nothing from this department is receivable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Barnegat Township Police radio encrypted?
Yes — Barnegat Township Police's radio system runs on P25 AES-256 encryption. All traffic, including the day-to-day dispatch that used to be the public's window into police activity, now runs encrypted. Nothing from this department is receivable.
Can I listen to Barnegat Township Police on a police scanner?
No. Barnegat Township Police has fully encrypted their radio communications using P25 AES-256. No consumer scanner can decode encrypted transmissions.
Why did Barnegat Township Police encrypt their radio?
Departments typically point to officer safety and operational security. Neither claim tends to come with evidence specific to Ocean County; what's verifiable is what's lost — journalists can't monitor police department activity in real time, and coordination with agencies that stay unencrypted gets harder.
Can Ocean County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes, and some departments already have. Because encryption here is a choice rather than a technical necessity, the path back runs through the same people who chose it: budget hearings, records requests, and residents who keep asking in public.
What can I do about Barnegat Township Police encryption?
Start local: show up when Ocean County officials discuss the budget for Barnegat Township Police, and ask specifically why full encryption was chosen over a delayed feed or tactical-only approach. File a FOIA request for recordings or policy documents, and connect with others nearby who want the same information — a coordinated ask carries more weight than an individual one.