York City Police
York, Pennsylvania
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
View 22 talkgroups
| DEC | Alpha Tag | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 51001 | PD CITY 1 | Police Dispatch - City 1 (includes West York and West Manchester) | Encrypted |
| 51002 | PD CITY 2 | Police Index/Spec Details - City 2 (includes West York and West Manchester) | Encrypted |
| 51108 | PD67 YCRPD | York County Regional PD | Encrypted |
| 51007 | PD NYCR | Northern York County Regional Police - Dispatch | Encrypted |
| 51116 | PD34 NYCR | Northern York County Regional PD | Encrypted |
| 50111 | YCFS Trng | York County Fire School Training | Encrypted |
| 53405 | EMS Co 95 | Southern York County EMS Private | Encrypted |
| 53406 | EMS Co 97 | York Hospital DRT | Encrypted |
| 51125 | PD48 W Y Boro | West York Boro. PD | Encrypted |
| 51129 | PD54 York Coll | York College | Encrypted |
| 51130 | PD56 York City | York City PD | Encrypted |
| 51131 | PD57 YCS | York City School | Encrypted |
| 52401 | CO 1 | West York FD Private | Encrypted |
| 52411 | CO 19 | York Twp FD Private | Encrypted |
| 52416 | NWBY FD | Newberry/Goldsboro/York Haven FD Private | Encrypted |
| 52451 | CO 71 | Eastern York County Forest Fire Private | Encrypted |
| 52452 | CO 72 | Southern York County Forest Fire Private | Encrypted |
| 52454 | CO 91 | York County Hazmat Private | Encrypted |
| 52455 | CO 99 | York City FD Private | Encrypted |
| 51136 | PD55 Penn St | Penn State - York | Encrypted |
| 51138 | York Coll Event | York College Police - Events | Encrypted |
| 10157 | PSP York | J6 York Dispatch | Encrypted |
Verification Status
We do have per-talkgroup data for York City Police from the RadioReference API, and used it to set the encryption scope shown above — but no additional human-reviewed source (a live feed check or a dated news account) has been recorded for this record, so treat it as a data-quality correction rather than an independently confirmed verification. Check the live RadioReference database directly for current status.
If you monitor York City 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.
York County Context
Of the 3 public-safety agencies we track in York County, York City Police is currently the only one we have flagged as encrypted.
See every agency we track in York County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
This agency is listed as encrypting some communications while leaving others open. The per-channel breakdown is unverified — check RadioReference for current status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is York City Police radio encrypted?
York City 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 as encrypting some communications while leaving others open. The per-channel breakdown is unverified — check RadioReference for current status.
Can I listen to York City Police on a police scanner?
Possibly. Our database lists York City Police as encrypting some of its talkgroups while leaving others open, which would leave some channels accessible. The listing is unverified — check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.
Why do agencies like York City Police encrypt their radio?
Ask why, and the answer is usually officer safety, sometimes operational security. What is harder to obtain is any documented case in York County where an open channel caused harm. The costs need no such documentation: reporting on police department response slows down, and mutual-aid coordination gets more awkward, immediately.
Can York 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 York City Police encryption?
Contact the officials who oversee York City Police's budget directly and ask why full encryption was chosen over partial alternatives. Pair that with a FOIA request for recordings and policy records, and look for an existing coalition in York County, or start one, since agencies respond differently to organized, sustained pressure than to individual complaints.