Van Bert Sheriff
Van Bert, Ohio
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference lists the Van Wert County Sheriff talk-around and tactical talkgroups on Ohio MARCS-IP as encrypted, while Sheriff dispatch and the county fire talkgroups are listed in the clear.
Encryption Details
Van Bert County Context
Of the 2 public-safety agencies we track in Van Bert County, Van Bert Sheriff is currently the only one we have flagged as encrypted.
See every agency we track in Van Bert 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 Van Bert Sheriff radio encrypted?
Yes. Van Bert Sheriff 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 Van Bert Sheriff on a police scanner?
Partially. Van Bert Sheriff encrypts some of its talkgroups while leaving others open, so some channels may still be accessible. Check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.
Why did Van Bert Sheriff encrypt their radio?
The standard justification nationwide is officer safety and operational security, regardless of whether a documented local incident ever required it. The tradeoff that follows is consistent too: public oversight drops, and reporters lose the ability to track sheriff's office response as it happens.
Can Van Bert County reverse the encryption decision?
It can. The radios support open and encrypted operation equally well, so this is a configuration and a policy, not a constraint — and policies set by Van Bert County officials are policies those officials can revisit when constituents press for it.
What can I do about Van Bert Sheriff encryption?
File a FOIA request for Van Bert Sheriff's radio recordings and encryption-decision paperwork, then show up to speak at a council or commission meeting. Find other residents or journalists in Van Bert 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.