City of Laredo
Webb, Texas
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
Verification Status
We do have per-talkgroup data for City of Laredo from the RadioReference API, and used it to correct this listing’s encryption status — 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 City of Laredo 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.
What This Means
This agency was previously listed as encrypted, but its own RadioReference talkgroup data (reviewed 2026-09-28) shows 0% of its talkgroups actually encrypted. Any scanner can receive it — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database, since encryption decisions can change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is City of Laredo radio encrypted?
No. Despite earlier listings, City of Laredo broadcasts in the clear. This agency was previously listed as encrypted, but its own RadioReference talkgroup data (reviewed 2026-09-28) shows 0% of its talkgroups actually encrypted. Any scanner can receive it — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database, since encryption decisions can change.
Can I listen to City of Laredo on a police scanner?
Yes. City of Laredo's own RadioReference talkgroup data shows its dispatch broadcasting in the clear — any scanner can receive it. Check RadioReference for frequencies and current status.
Why do agencies like City of Laredo encrypt their radio?
The reasons offered are almost always the same two: officer safety and operational security. Whether either was tested against a real Webb 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 Webb County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes — nothing about the underlying radio technology forces this. It's a decision Webb 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 Laredo encryption?
File a FOIA request for City of Laredo's radio recordings and encryption-decision paperwork, then show up to speak at a council or commission meeting. Find other residents or journalists in Webb 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.