Carmel Township Police
Putnam, New York
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference lists the Carmel PD Tac talkgroup on the Putnam County P25 system as encrypted ("T Enc"), while the Carmel PD Dispatch talkgroup remains in the clear.
Encryption Details
Putnam County Context
Of the 3 public-safety agencies we track in Putnam County, Carmel 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 is a split system: certain talkgroups are encrypted while others remain in the clear, which means partial monitoring is still possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Carmel Township Police radio encrypted?
Yes — Carmel Township Police's radio system runs on P25 AES-256 encryption. This is a split system: certain talkgroups are encrypted while others remain in the clear, which means partial monitoring is still possible.
Can I listen to Carmel Township Police on a police scanner?
Partially. Carmel 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 Carmel Township Police encrypt their radio?
Departments typically point to officer safety and operational security. Neither claim tends to come with evidence specific to Putnam County; what's verifiable is what's lost — journalists can't monitor police department activity in real time, and coordination with agencies that stay unencrypted gets harder.
Can Putnam County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes. Whoever made this call for Carmel 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 Carmel Township Police encryption?
Contact the officials who oversee Carmel Township Police's budget directly and ask why full encryption was chosen over partial alternatives. Pair that with a FOIA request for recordings and policy records, and look for an existing coalition in Putnam County, or start one, since agencies respond differently to organized, sustained pressure than to individual complaints.