City of Lebanon Police Department
Wilson, Tennessee
How we verified this
As of August 2026 "1001 | Police Dispatch | Police :Dispatch" is listed in clear mode "T" on RadioReference's "Lebanon Public Safety" P25 Phase II system, while Police Secondary, Records, Talk-around and Tactical 1-18 (talkgroups 1002-1022) are all marked "T Enc".
Encryption Details
Wilson County Context
Wilson County is a mixed picture: 1 of 3 agencies we track here are fully encrypted (33%), which means some neighboring departments are still audible on a scanner.
See every agency we track in Wilson County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
This is a split system: certain talkgroups are encrypted while others remain in the clear, which means partial monitoring is still possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is City of Lebanon Police Department radio encrypted?
Yes. City of Lebanon Police Department uses P25 AES-256 encryption. This is a split system: certain talkgroups are encrypted while others remain in the clear, which means partial monitoring is still possible.
Can I listen to City of Lebanon Police Department on a police scanner?
Partially. City of Lebanon Police Department encrypts some of its talkgroups while leaving others open, so some channels may still be accessible. Check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.
Why did City of Lebanon Police Department 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 City of Lebanon Police Department to know what was happening nearby.
Can Wilson 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 Wilson County officials are policies those officials can revisit when constituents press for it.
What can I do about City of Lebanon Police Department encryption?
File a FOIA request for City of Lebanon Police Department's radio recordings and encryption-decision paperwork, then show up to speak at a council or commission meeting. Find other residents or journalists in Wilson County who want the same access — state legislation requiring public radio access is the longer-term fix, but organized local pressure is what usually moves the needle first.