Union City Police
Hudson, New Jersey
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference's Union City system listing shows Police 1 dispatch through Police 5 and Police Command in the clear, with only the two Police Secure talkgroups flagged fully encrypted.
Encryption Details
Hudson County Context
Union City Police isn't an outlier here: 5 of the 8 public-safety agencies we track in Hudson County are fully encrypted (63%), so most departments nearby have made the same move.
See every agency we track in Hudson County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
A subset of this department's talkgroups are encrypted rather than the whole system. Everything outside that subset may still be audible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Union City Police radio encrypted?
Yes — Union City Police's radio system runs on P25 AES-256 encryption. A subset of this department's talkgroups are encrypted rather than the whole system. Everything outside that subset may still be audible.
Can I listen to Union City Police on a police scanner?
Partially. Union City Police encrypts specific talkgroups rather than the whole system, so some channels may still be accessible. Check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.
Why did Union City Police encrypt their radio?
Officer safety and operational security are the reasons agencies give. What rarely comes with that explanation is Hudson 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 Hudson County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes. Whoever made this call for Union City 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 Union City Police encryption?
Ask for the paperwork first — the policy that authorised encryption for Union City Police, and the recordings themselves — because a specific request is harder to wave away than a general complaint. Then take what you learn to a council meeting, and bring others from Hudson County with you.