Elizabeth Township Police
Union, New Jersey
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference's NJICS listing shows Elizabeth PD 1 dispatch, PD 2 and PD 3 in the clear and active on Broadcastify Calls, with only Elizabeth PD 4 and PD 5 flagged fully encrypted.
Encryption Details
Union County Context
Union County is a mixed picture: 6 of 12 agencies we track here are fully encrypted (50%), which means some neighboring departments are still audible on a scanner.
See every agency we track in Union County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
Coverage here is uneven — parts of the system are locked and parts are open, so a scanner gives you an incomplete rather than an empty picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elizabeth Township Police radio encrypted?
Yes — Elizabeth Township Police's radio system runs on P25 AES-256 encryption. Coverage here is uneven — parts of the system are locked and parts are open, so a scanner gives you an incomplete rather than an empty picture.
Can I listen to Elizabeth Township Police on a police scanner?
Partially. Elizabeth Township Police encrypts some of its talkgroups while leaving others open, so some channels may still be accessible. Check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.
Why did Elizabeth Township Police encrypt their radio?
Departments typically point to officer safety and operational security. Neither claim tends to come with evidence specific to Union 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 Union County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes. Whoever made this call for Elizabeth 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 Elizabeth Township Police encryption?
Contact the officials who oversee Elizabeth Township Police's budget directly and ask why full encryption was chosen over partial alternatives. Pair that with a FOIA request for recordings and policy records, and look for an existing coalition in Union County, or start one, since agencies respond differently to organized, sustained pressure than to individual complaints.