Howell Township Police
Monmouth, New Jersey
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference's NJICS listing flags both Howell Township police talkgroups, dispatch and operations, as fully encrypted, while the township's fire, EMS and common talkgroups remain in the clear and active on Broadcastify Calls.
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
View 2 talkgroups
| DEC | Alpha Tag | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4525 | Howell PD 1 | Howell Police - Dispatch | Encrypted |
| 4527 | Howell PD 2 | Howell Police - Operations | Encrypted |
Monmouth County Context
Howell 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.
See every agency we track in Monmouth County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
Every channel this agency runs, including day-to-day dispatch, is encrypted. That shuts out the public and local reporters, and it can complicate coordination with nearby agencies that still expect to hear it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Howell Township Police radio encrypted?
Yes. Howell Township Police uses P25 AES-256 encryption. Every channel this agency runs, including day-to-day dispatch, is encrypted. That shuts out the public and local reporters, and it can complicate coordination with nearby agencies that still expect to hear it.
Can I listen to Howell Township Police on a police scanner?
No. Howell Township Police has fully encrypted their radio communications using P25 AES-256. No consumer scanner can decode encrypted transmissions.
Why did Howell 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 Howell Township Police to know what was happening nearby.
Can Monmouth County reverse the encryption decision?
It can. The radios support open and encrypted operation equally well, so this is a configuration and a policy, not a constraint — and policies set by Monmouth County officials are policies those officials can revisit when constituents press for it.
What can I do about Howell Township Police encryption?
Put the question to whoever signs off on Howell Township Police's radio budget: why full encryption rather than a delayed feed or tactical-only channels? File for the recordings and the decision documents alongside it, and link up with neighbours and local reporters in Monmouth County so the ask arrives as a group rather than a one-off.