City of Katy
Colorado, Texas
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference flags Katy Police 3 on TxWARN as encrypted while Katy Police 1 (dispatch), Police 2, Police 4 and all Katy Fire channels are listed in the clear; the database places Katy's public-safety talkgroups under Fort Bend County rather than Colorado County.
Encryption Details
Colorado County Context
Of the 4 public-safety agencies we track in Colorado County, City of Katy is currently the only one we have flagged as encrypted.
See every agency we track in Colorado County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
Coverage here is uneven — parts of the system are locked and parts are open, so a scanner gives you an incomplete rather than an empty picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is City of Katy radio encrypted?
Yes. City of Katy uses P25 AES-256 encryption. Coverage here is uneven — parts of the system are locked and parts are open, so a scanner gives you an incomplete rather than an empty picture.
Can I listen to City of Katy on a police scanner?
Partially. City of Katy 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 Katy encrypt their radio?
The reasons offered are almost always the same two: officer safety and operational security. Whether either was tested against a real Colorado County incident is rarely part of the public record, whereas the consequences are easy to observe — no real-time accountability, and neighbouring agencies still in the clear left working around the gap.
Can Colorado County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes — nothing about the underlying radio technology forces this. It's a decision Colorado County officials made and can revisit, and other communities have pushed departments back toward open channels through sustained council pressure and coalition-building.
What can I do about City of Katy encryption?
Three things carry weight, in this order: a public-records request for City of Katy's encryption policy and radio recordings, a turn at the microphone during Colorado County budget discussions, and finding the other people locally already asking the same question. Individually these are easy to deflect; together they are not.