2 of 3 Multnomah County agencies are fully encrypted
3 public safety agencies in Multnomah County, Oregon have encrypted their radio communications.
Radio encryption in Multnomah County
Encryption covers most of the catalogued traffic in Multnomah County: 23 of 38 talkgroups are encrypted, leaving 15 in the clear on the Portland system and the Oregon State Radio Project. Three agencies are tracked, all using P25 AES-256 — the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office and Portland Police Bureau are listed as encrypting every monitored channel, and Gresham Police encrypts tactical traffic. The sheriff's office and Gresham records are verified against RadioReference; the Portland Police Bureau record is unverified, so confirm its current status directly before relying on it.
Compiled from this site's agency database. Encryption status changes without notice — confirm any specific agency on RadioReference.
Radio systems serving Multnomah County
- Portland
- Oregon State Radio Project
Of 38 talkgroups catalogued for Multnomah County, 23 are encrypted and 15 remain in the clear. A scanner can still receive the unencrypted channels.
2 of 3 records here have been checked against a primary source; 1 has not.
System and talkgroup counts come from this site's agency database and change without notice — confirm current status on RadioReference.
Encryption Technology Used in Multnomah County
Encrypted Agencies in Multnomah County
| Agency Name | Type | Encryption | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gresham Police Department ✓ | Police | P25 AES-256 | Tactical Only |
| Multnomah County Sheriff's Office ✓ | Sheriff | P25 AES-256 | Fully Encrypted |
| Portland Police Bureau | Police | P25 AES-256 | Fully Encrypted |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Multnomah County police radio encrypted?
2 of 3 agencies in Multnomah County, Oregon are fully encrypted (67%), while 1 have partial encryption.
Can I listen to Multnomah County Sheriff on a scanner?
The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office has encrypted their radio communications using P25 AES-256. Scanner monitoring of sheriff operations is no longer possible.
How many police departments in Multnomah County are encrypted?
2 police departments in Multnomah County have implemented some level of encryption, along with 1 sheriff offices, 0 fire departments, and 0 EMS agencies.
What encryption technology does Multnomah County use?
The most common encryption type in Multnomah County is P25 AES-256, used by agencies for secure communications. This encryption blocks public scanner monitoring.
Fight Encryption in Multnomah County
Join the movement to restore transparency to public safety communications in Multnomah County, Oregon.