Ohio State Police
Statewide, Ohio
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference lists the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Special Response Team talkgroups on Ohio MARCS-IP as encrypted while routine district patrol traffic remains in the clear, as evidenced by Broadcastify's live OSHP District 1 feed (broadcastify.com/listen/feed/44202).
Encryption Details
What This Means
Tactical channels are encrypted while routine dispatch is not, so day-to-day activity may still be audible even though special operations are not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ohio State Police radio encrypted?
Yes — Ohio State Police's radio system runs on P25 AES-256 encryption. Tactical channels are encrypted while routine dispatch is not, so day-to-day activity may still be audible even though special operations are not.
Can I listen to Ohio State Police on a police scanner?
Partially. Ohio State Police encrypts its tactical channels, so some channels may still be accessible. Check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.
Why did Ohio State Police encrypt their radio?
Departments typically point to officer safety and operational security. Neither claim tends to come with evidence specific to Statewide 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 Statewide County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes. Encryption is a policy choice made by department leadership or elected officials, not a technical requirement, so it can be reversed the same way. Public pressure, city council advocacy, and organized local coalitions have reversed encryption decisions elsewhere.
What can I do about Ohio State Police encryption?
Contact the officials who oversee Ohio State 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 Statewide County, or start one, since agencies respond differently to organized, sustained pressure than to individual complaints.