Police Department Partially Encrypted Discovered via RadioReference

Lockport Township Police

Niagara, New York

How we verified this

As of August 2026 RadioReference lists Lockport PD Tac and Lockport PD Ops on the Niagara County Public Safety System as encrypted ("D Enc"), while the Lockport PD Dispatch talkgroup remains 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

Niagara County Context

Of the 3 public-safety agencies we track in Niagara County, Lockport 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 Lockport Township Police radio encrypted?

Yes — Lockport 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 Lockport Township Police on a police scanner?

Partially. Lockport 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 Lockport 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 Niagara 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 Niagara County reverse the encryption decision?

Yes. Whoever made this call for Lockport 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 Lockport Township Police encryption?

Ask for the paperwork first — the policy that authorised encryption for Lockport 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 Niagara 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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