Youngstown Police
Mahoning, Ohio
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
View 4 talkgroups
| DEC | Alpha Tag | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 39500 | YPD DISP | Police Dispatch | Encrypted |
| 39501 | YPD CH2 | Police Ch. 2 | Encrypted |
| 39502 | YPD CH3 | Police Ch. 3 | Encrypted |
| 39503 | YPD CH4 | Police Ch. 4 | Encrypted |
Verification Status
We don't yet have per-talkgroup data for Youngstown Police from the RadioReference API. The encryption scope and type above come from the RadioReference Wiki, which is community-maintained rather than independently confirmed channel-by-channel. Our automated matching put this at low confidence (60%) based on how closely the wiki listing matches this agency's name and county.
If you monitor Youngstown Police directly or have more current information, the fastest way to fix this is to update the RadioReference Wiki entry — our data pulls from there and from the RadioReference API on a regular refresh cycle.
Mahoning County Context
Youngstown Police isn't an outlier here: 6 of the 8 public-safety agencies we track in Mahoning County are fully encrypted (75%), so most departments nearby have made the same move.
See every agency we track in Mahoning County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
This agency is listed in our database as encrypting all of its radio communications, including routine dispatch. The listing is unverified — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Youngstown Police radio encrypted?
Youngstown Police is listed in our records with P25 AES-256 encryption — a listing we haven't yet verified against live talkgroup data. This agency is listed in our database as encrypting all of its radio communications, including routine dispatch. The listing is unverified — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database.
Can I listen to Youngstown Police on a police scanner?
Likely not, if the listing is accurate: our database lists Youngstown Police as fully encrypted using P25 AES-256, which no consumer scanner can decode. The listing is unverified — check the live RadioReference database for current status.
Why do agencies like Youngstown Police encrypt their radio?
Departments typically point to officer safety and operational security. Neither claim tends to come with evidence specific to Mahoning 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 Mahoning County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes. Whoever made this call for Youngstown Police can also unmake it; there's no technical lock-in. The approach that has worked elsewhere combines public-records requests, direct council pressure, and a coordinated local coalition.
What can I do about Youngstown Police encryption?
Ask for the paperwork first — the policy that authorised encryption for Youngstown 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 Mahoning County with you.