Sandy Valley Police
Tuscarawas, Ohio
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference lists the Sandy Valley Police dispatch talkgroup on Ohio MARCS-IP as encrypted, along with every other Tuscarawas County law enforcement talkgroup.
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
Tuscarawas County Context
Sandy Valley Police isn't an outlier here: 6 of the 6 public-safety agencies we track in Tuscarawas County are fully encrypted (100%), so most departments nearby have made the same move.
See every agency we track in Tuscarawas County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
This agency encrypts all of its radio communications, including routine dispatch. The public, journalists, and even other first responders can't monitor its activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sandy Valley Police radio encrypted?
Yes — Sandy Valley Police's radio system runs on P25 AES-256 encryption. This agency encrypts all of its radio communications, including routine dispatch. The public, journalists, and even other first responders can't monitor its activity.
Can I listen to Sandy Valley Police on a police scanner?
No. Sandy Valley Police has fully encrypted their radio communications using P25 AES-256. No consumer scanner can decode encrypted transmissions.
Why did Sandy Valley Police encrypt their radio?
Departments typically point to officer safety and operational security. Neither claim tends to come with evidence specific to Tuscarawas 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 Tuscarawas 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 Sandy Valley Police encryption?
Ask for the paperwork first — the policy that authorised encryption for Sandy Valley 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 Tuscarawas County with you.