Ohio Investigation Unit
Statewide, Ohio
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference lists only one Ohio Investigative Unit talkgroup on Ohio MARCS-IP as encrypted (Cincinnati District Tactical 1); the unit's primary and other district enforcement talkgroups are listed in the clear.
Encryption Details
What This Means
Only the tactical side is closed. SWAT callouts and sensitive operations are encrypted; ordinary calls for service may still reach a scanner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ohio Investigation Unit radio encrypted?
Yes. Ohio Investigation Unit uses P25 AES-256 encryption. Only the tactical side is closed. SWAT callouts and sensitive operations are encrypted; ordinary calls for service may still reach a scanner.
Can I listen to Ohio Investigation Unit on a police scanner?
Partially. Ohio Investigation Unit encrypts its tactical channels, so some channels may still be accessible. Check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.
Why did Ohio Investigation Unit encrypt their radio?
The reasons offered are almost always the same two: officer safety and operational security. Whether either was tested against a real Statewide County incident is rarely part of the public record, whereas the consequences are easy to observe — no real-time accountability, and neighbouring agencies still in the clear left working around the gap.
Can Statewide County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes — nothing about the underlying radio technology forces this. It's a decision Statewide County officials made and can revisit, and other communities have pushed departments back toward open channels through sustained council pressure and coalition-building.
What can I do about Ohio Investigation Unit encryption?
Put the question to whoever signs off on Ohio Investigation Unit's radio budget: why full encryption rather than a delayed feed or tactical-only channels? File for the recordings and the decision documents alongside it, and link up with neighbours and local reporters in Statewide County so the ask arrives as a group rather than a one-off.