Police Department Partially Encrypted Discovered via RadioReference

Gates Township Police

Monroe, New York

How we verified this

As of August 2026 RadioReference lists the Gates PD Tac talkgroup (2217) on the Monroe/Ontario Counties system as encrypted ("T Enc"), while the Gates Special Police talkgroup and the town's fire dispatch and EMS talkgroups remain in the clear.

Checked against a primary source on 2026-08-09: radioreference.com . Encryption status changes without notice — confirm the current picture on the live RadioReference database before relying on it.

What you can do right now

Encryption Details

Encryption Type P25 AES-256
Scope Some talkgroups encrypted; dispatch audible per verification
Technical Details Inferred from RadioReference

Monroe County Context

Of the 7 public-safety agencies we track in Monroe County, Gates Township Police is currently the only one we have flagged as encrypted.

What This Means

Encryption here is a mixed bag: some talkgroups are locked, others aren't. It varies by channel and by what the department is doing at the time.

See encryption status nationwide Interactive map showing which US police departments have encrypted their radios. Open the encryption map →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gates Township Police radio encrypted?

Yes — Gates Township Police's radio system runs on P25 AES-256 encryption. Encryption here is a mixed bag: some talkgroups are locked, others aren't. It varies by channel and by what the department is doing at the time.

Can I listen to Gates Township Police on a police scanner?

Partially. Gates 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 Gates Township Police encrypt their radio?

Departments typically point to officer safety and operational security. Neither claim tends to come with evidence specific to Monroe 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 Monroe 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 Gates Township Police encryption?

Ask for the paperwork first — the policy that authorised encryption for Gates 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 Monroe County with you.

Data source: RadioReference Wiki

Checked against a primary source on 2026-08-09 — see "How we verified this" above. Encryption status changes; confirm at RadioReference before relying on it.

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