Police Department Fully Encrypted Discovered via RadioReference

Holmdel Township Police

Monmouth, New Jersey

How we verified this

As of August 2026 RadioReference's NJICS listing flags both Holmdel police talkgroups as fully encrypted, while the township's fire, EMS, OEM and public-works talkgroups remain in the clear.

Checked against a primary source on 2026-08-09: 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 Discovered via RadioReference (2 encrypted talkgroups)
Technical Details Inferred from RadioReference

Verified Talkgroup Data

Verified Aug 9, 2026 Low confidence
2 Total Talkgroups
2 Encrypted
0 Unencrypted
100% Encrypted
Radio System: New Jersey Interoperability Communications System (NJICS)
View 2 talkgroups
DEC Alpha Tag Description Status
4931 Holmdel PD 1 Holmdel Police 1 Encrypted
4933 Holmdel PD 2 Holmdel Police 2 Encrypted

Monmouth County Context

Holmdel Township Police isn't an outlier here: 26 of the 26 public-safety agencies we track in Monmouth County are fully encrypted (100%), so most departments nearby have made the same move.

What This Means

This agency encrypts all of its radio communications, including routine dispatch. The public, journalists, and even other first responders can't monitor its activity.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Holmdel Township Police radio encrypted?

Yes. Holmdel Township Police uses P25 AES-256 encryption. This agency encrypts all of its radio communications, including routine dispatch. The public, journalists, and even other first responders can't monitor its activity.

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

No. Holmdel Township Police has fully encrypted their radio communications using P25 AES-256. No consumer scanner can decode encrypted transmissions.

Why did Holmdel Township Police encrypt their radio?

The standard justification nationwide is officer safety and operational security, regardless of whether a documented local incident ever required it. The tradeoff that follows is consistent too: public oversight drops, and reporters lose the ability to track police department response as it happens.

Can Monmouth County reverse the encryption decision?

Nothing technical prevents it. Holmdel Township Police operates encrypted because someone decided it should, and decisions of that kind get revisited when councils hear sustained, organised pressure rather than isolated complaints.

What can I do about Holmdel Township Police encryption?

File a FOIA request for Holmdel 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 Monmouth 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 + RadioReference API (verified)

Checked against a primary source on 2026-08-09 — see "How we verified this" above. Encryption status changes; confirm at RadioReference before relying on it.

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