Police Department In the Clear — Verified 2026-08-01

Franklin Township Police

Somerset, New Jersey

How we verified this

RadioReference Somerset County Trunking System page shows Franklin Township (Police Region 9) dispatch and tactical talkgroups with no encryption flags — contradicting the listed 'all operations AES-256' claim — while only some other regions' Ops 2 talkgroups are flagged 'T Enc'.

Checked against a primary source on 2026-08-01: radioreference.com . Encryption status changes without notice — confirm the current picture on the live RadioReference database before relying on it.

What you can do right now

Encryption Details

Encryption Type P25 AES-256
Scope All Operations
Technical Details P25 Phase II AES-256

What This Means

This agency was previously listed as encrypted, but verification against live sources on 2026-08-01 found its dispatch broadcasting in the clear. Any P25-capable 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 Franklin Township Police radio encrypted?

No. Despite earlier listings, Franklin Township Police broadcasts in the clear. This agency was previously listed as encrypted, but verification against live sources on 2026-08-01 found its dispatch broadcasting in the clear. Any P25-capable scanner can receive it — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database, since encryption decisions can change.

Can I listen to Franklin Township Police on a police scanner?

Yes. Verification against live sources found Franklin Township Police's dispatch broadcasting in the clear — any P25-capable scanner can receive it. Check RadioReference for frequencies and current status.

Why do agencies like Franklin Township Police encrypt their radio?

Agencies cite officer safety and operational security. Those are assertions rather than findings — no local evidence is typically produced — while the effects are concrete and land straight away on anyone who relied on hearing Franklin Township Police to know what was happening nearby.

Can Somerset County reverse the encryption decision?

Yes — nothing about the underlying radio technology forces this. It's a decision Somerset County officials made and can revisit, and other communities have pushed departments back toward open channels through sustained council pressure and coalition-building.

What can I do about Franklin Township Police encryption?

File a FOIA request for Franklin Township Police's radio recordings and encryption-decision paperwork, then show up to speak at a council or commission meeting. Find other residents or journalists in Somerset 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.

Data source: RadioReference Wiki

Checked against a primary source on 2026-08-01 — see "How we verified this" above. Encryption status changes; confirm at RadioReference before relying on it.

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