Wanaque Township Police
Passaic, New Jersey
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference's NJICS listing flags both Wanaque police talkgroups as fully encrypted, while the borough's fire dispatch and combined fire/OEM talkgroups remain in the clear.
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
View 2 talkgroups
| DEC | Alpha Tag | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5667 | Wanaque PD 1 | Wanaque PD 1 | Encrypted |
| 5669 | Wanaque PD 2 | Wanaque PD 2 | Encrypted |
Passaic County Context
Wanaque Township Police isn't an outlier here: 4 of the 6 public-safety agencies we track in Passaic County are fully encrypted (67%), so most departments nearby have made the same move.
See every agency we track in Passaic County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
There is no partial access here: routine dispatch is encrypted alongside everything else, so a scanner picks up nothing from this agency at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wanaque Township Police radio encrypted?
Yes — Wanaque Township Police's radio system runs on P25 AES-256 encryption. There is no partial access here: routine dispatch is encrypted alongside everything else, so a scanner picks up nothing from this agency at all.
Can I listen to Wanaque Township Police on a police scanner?
No. Wanaque Township Police has fully encrypted their radio communications using P25 AES-256. No consumer scanner can decode encrypted transmissions.
Why did Wanaque Township Police encrypt their radio?
Officer safety and operational security are the reasons agencies give. What rarely comes with that explanation is Passaic 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 Passaic County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes. Whoever made this call for Wanaque 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 Wanaque Township Police encryption?
Start local: show up when Passaic County officials discuss the budget for Wanaque Township Police, and ask specifically why full encryption was chosen over a delayed feed or tactical-only approach. File a FOIA request for recordings or policy documents, and connect with others nearby who want the same information — a coordinated ask carries more weight than an individual one.