City of McKinney
Collin, Texas
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference flags all eleven McKinney Police talkgroups on the city's P25 system — Patrol 1, Patrol 2, TLETS, tactical, special ops and training — as encrypted, while McKinney Fire fireground and medical channels are listed in the clear.
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
Collin County Context
Collin County is a mixed picture: 2 of 8 agencies we track here are fully encrypted (25%), which means some neighboring departments are still audible on a scanner.
See every agency we track in Collin 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 City of McKinney radio encrypted?
Yes — City of McKinney's radio system runs on P25 DES-OFB 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 City of McKinney on a police scanner?
No. City of McKinney has fully encrypted their radio communications using P25 DES-OFB. No consumer scanner can decode encrypted transmissions.
Why did City of McKinney encrypt their radio?
Departments typically point to officer safety and operational security. Neither claim tends to come with evidence specific to Collin County; what's verifiable is what's lost — journalists can't monitor other agency activity in real time, and coordination with agencies that stay unencrypted gets harder.
Can Collin 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 City of McKinney encryption?
Ask for the paperwork first — the policy that authorised encryption for City of McKinney, and the recordings themselves — because a specific request is harder to wave away than a general complaint. Then take what you learn to a council meeting, and bring others from Collin County with you.