Reading Police
Berks, Pennsylvania
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
View 14 talkgroups
| DEC | Alpha Tag | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28001 | Rdg PD Cmd | Reading Police Command Staff | Encrypted |
| 28002 | Rdg PD Supr | Reading Police Supervisors | Encrypted |
| 28003 | Rdg PD Disp | Reading Police Dispatch | Encrypted |
| 28004 | Rdg PD SCOPE | Reading Police SCOPE Interactions | Encrypted |
| 28005 | Rdg PD Ops1 | Reading Police Incident Operations | Encrypted |
| 28006 | Rdg PD Ops2 | Reading Police Incident Operations | Encrypted |
| 28007 | Rdg PD Ops3 | Reading Police Incident Operations | Encrypted |
| 28008 | Rdg PD Admin | Reading Police Admin | Encrypted |
| 28009 | Rdg Vice 1 | Reading Police Vice Operations | Encrypted |
| 28010 | Rdg Vice 2 | Reading Police Vice Operations | Encrypted |
| 28011 | Rdg Vice 3 | Reading Police Vice Operations | Encrypted |
| 28012 | Rdg PD CI | Reading Police Criminal Investigators | Encrypted |
| 28013 | Rdg PD Trfc | Reading Police Traffic | Encrypted |
| 28014 | Rdg PD EOD | Reading Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal | Encrypted |
Verification Status
We don't yet have per-talkgroup data for Reading 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 moderate confidence (70%) based on how closely the wiki listing matches this agency's name and county.
If you monitor Reading 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.
Berks County Context
Reading Police isn't an outlier here: 35 of the 36 public-safety agencies we track in Berks County are fully encrypted (97%), so most departments nearby have made the same move.
See every agency we track in Berks County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
Our records list every channel this agency runs as encrypted, including day-to-day dispatch. That listing hasn't been verified against live talkgroup data, so confirm it at RadioReference before relying on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Reading Police radio encrypted?
Our database lists Reading Police as using P25 AES-256 encryption, though this listing is unverified. Our records list every channel this agency runs as encrypted, including day-to-day dispatch. That listing hasn't been verified against live talkgroup data, so confirm it at RadioReference before relying on it.
Can I listen to Reading Police on a police scanner?
Likely not, if the listing is accurate: our database lists Reading 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 Reading Police 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 police department response as it happens.
Can Berks 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 Berks County officials are policies those officials can revisit when constituents press for it.
What can I do about Reading Police encryption?
Put the question to whoever signs off on Reading Police's radio budget: why full encryption rather than a delayed feed or tactical-only channels? File for the recordings and the decision documents alongside it, and link up with neighbours and local reporters in Berks County so the ask arrives as a group rather than a one-off.