Carteret Township Police
Middlesex, New Jersey
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference's Middlesex County/Sayreville system listing flags all six Carteret police talkgroups, including dispatch, as fully encrypted, while the borough's fire, EMS and OEM talkgroups remain in the clear and active on Broadcastify Calls.
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
View 6 talkgroups
| DEC | Alpha Tag | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1101 | Carteret PD Disp | Police Dispatch | Encrypted |
| 1102 | Carteret PD Tac | Police Tac | Encrypted |
| 1103 | Carteret PD 3 | Police Ch. 3 | Encrypted |
| 1104 | Carteret PD 4 | Police Ch. 4 | Encrypted |
| 1105 | Carteret PD 5 | Police Ch. 5 | Encrypted |
| 1106 | Carteret PD 6 | Police Ch. 6 | Encrypted |
Middlesex County Context
Carteret Township Police isn't an outlier here: 15 of the 17 public-safety agencies we track in Middlesex County are fully encrypted (88%), so most departments nearby have made the same move.
See every agency we track in Middlesex 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 Carteret Township Police radio encrypted?
Yes — Carteret 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 Carteret Township Police on a police scanner?
No. Carteret Township Police has fully encrypted their radio communications using P25 AES-256. No consumer scanner can decode encrypted transmissions.
Why did Carteret Township Police encrypt their radio?
Officer safety and operational security are the reasons agencies give. What rarely comes with that explanation is Middlesex 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 Middlesex County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes. Whoever made this call for Carteret Township Police can also unmake it; there's no technical lock-in. The approach that has worked elsewhere combines public-records requests, direct council pressure, and a coordinated local coalition.
What can I do about Carteret Township Police encryption?
Start local: show up when Middlesex County officials discuss the budget for Carteret 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.