Brewster Township Police
Putnam, New York
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference lists the Brewster PD Tac talkgroup on the Putnam County P25 system as encrypted ("T Enc"), while the Brewster PD Dispatch talkgroup remains in the clear.
Encryption Details
Putnam County Context
Of the 3 public-safety agencies we track in Putnam County, Brewster Township Police is currently the only one we have flagged as encrypted.
See every agency we track in Putnam County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
This agency encrypts some of its communications while leaving others open. Which channels are affected depends on the operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brewster Township Police radio encrypted?
Yes — Brewster Township Police's radio system runs on P25 AES-256 encryption. This agency encrypts some of its communications while leaving others open. Which channels are affected depends on the operation.
Can I listen to Brewster Township Police on a police scanner?
Partially. Brewster Township Police encrypts some of its talkgroups while leaving others open, so some channels may still be accessible. Check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.
Why did Brewster Township Police encrypt their radio?
Ask why, and the answer is usually officer safety, sometimes operational security. What is harder to obtain is any documented case in Putnam County where an open channel caused harm. The costs need no such documentation: reporting on police department response slows down, and mutual-aid coordination gets more awkward, immediately.
Can Putnam County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes, and some departments already have. Because encryption here is a choice rather than a technical necessity, the path back runs through the same people who chose it: budget hearings, records requests, and residents who keep asking in public.
What can I do about Brewster Township Police encryption?
Ask for the paperwork first — the policy that authorised encryption for Brewster Township 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 Putnam County with you.