West Hempford Township Police
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference lists "PD39 private - West Hempfield Township PD" as encrypted on the Lancaster County-Wide Communications system, where all four regional police dispatch talkgroups are likewise encrypted; note the township is spelled Hempfield.
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
Lancaster County Context
West Hempford Township Police isn't an outlier here: 33 of the 36 public-safety agencies we track in Lancaster County are fully encrypted (92%), so most departments nearby have made the same move.
See every agency we track in Lancaster County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
This agency encrypts all of its radio communications, including routine dispatch. The public, journalists, and even other first responders can't monitor its activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is West Hempford Township Police radio encrypted?
Yes. West Hempford Township Police uses P25 AES-256 encryption. This agency encrypts all of its radio communications, including routine dispatch. The public, journalists, and even other first responders can't monitor its activity.
Can I listen to West Hempford Township Police on a police scanner?
No. West Hempford Township Police has fully encrypted their radio communications using P25 AES-256. No consumer scanner can decode encrypted transmissions.
Why did West Hempford Township Police encrypt their radio?
Agencies cite officer safety and operational security. Those are assertions rather than findings — no local evidence is typically produced — while the effects are concrete and land straight away on anyone who relied on hearing West Hempford Township Police to know what was happening nearby.
Can Lancaster 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 Lancaster County officials are policies those officials can revisit when constituents press for it.
What can I do about West Hempford Township Police encryption?
Put the question to whoever signs off on West Hempford Township 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 Lancaster County so the ask arrives as a group rather than a one-off.