Mercersburg Police
Franklin, Pennsylvania
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference lists "Mercersburg Private" as fully encrypted on the South Central Interoperability Network, where every Franklin County law enforcement talkgroup, including County Dispatch, is also encrypted.
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
Franklin County Context
Mercersburg Police isn't an outlier here: 8 of the 8 public-safety agencies we track in Franklin County are fully encrypted (100%), so most departments nearby have made the same move.
See every agency we track in Franklin County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
There is no partial access here: routine dispatch is encrypted alongside everything else, so a scanner picks up nothing from this agency at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mercersburg Police radio encrypted?
Yes — Mercersburg Police's radio system runs on P25 AES-256 encryption. There is no partial access here: routine dispatch is encrypted alongside everything else, so a scanner picks up nothing from this agency at all.
Can I listen to Mercersburg Police on a police scanner?
No. Mercersburg Police has fully encrypted their radio communications using P25 AES-256. No consumer scanner can decode encrypted transmissions.
Why did Mercersburg Police encrypt their radio?
Departments typically point to officer safety and operational security. Neither claim tends to come with evidence specific to Franklin 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 Franklin 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 Mercersburg Police encryption?
Start local: show up when Franklin County officials discuss the budget for Mercersburg Police, and ask specifically why full encryption was chosen over a delayed feed or tactical-only approach. File a FOIA request for recordings or policy documents, and connect with others nearby who want the same information — a coordinated ask carries more weight than an individual one.