University of Cincinnati
Hamilton, Ohio
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference lists University of Cincinnati Police car-to-car and command talkgroups on Ohio MARCS-IP as encrypted, while UC Police dispatch and events talkgroups are listed in the clear.
Encryption Details
Hamilton County Context
Of the 5 public-safety agencies we track in Hamilton County, University of Cincinnati is currently the only one we have flagged as encrypted.
See every agency we track in Hamilton County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
Some of this agency's traffic is encrypted and some is not. What you can hear depends on the channel and on what the department is doing at the time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is University of Cincinnati radio encrypted?
Yes. University of Cincinnati uses P25 AES-256 encryption. Some of this agency's traffic is encrypted and some is not. What you can hear depends on the channel and on what the department is doing at the time.
Can I listen to University of Cincinnati on a police scanner?
Partially. University of Cincinnati encrypts some of its talkgroups while leaving others open, so some channels may still be accessible. Check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.
Why did University of Cincinnati encrypt their radio?
The reasons offered are almost always the same two: officer safety and operational security. Whether either was tested against a real Hamilton 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 Hamilton County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes — nothing about the underlying radio technology forces this. It's a decision Hamilton 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 University of Cincinnati encryption?
File a FOIA request for University of Cincinnati's radio recordings and encryption-decision paperwork, then show up to speak at a council or commission meeting. Find other residents or journalists in Hamilton County who want the same access — state legislation requiring public radio access is the longer-term fix, but organized local pressure is what usually moves the needle first.