City of Schertz
Guadalupe, Bexar, and Comal, Texas
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference flags Schertz Police Patrol 1 dispatch, Police 3, Supervisors, Ops 2, Tactical, both CID channels, SWAT, Traffic and SRO as encrypted on the LCRA P25 system, while Police Patrol 2, Police Operations 1, the citywide channels, animal control, public works and the EOC are listed in the clear.
Encryption Details
What This Means
This agency encrypts some of its communications while leaving others open. Which channels are affected depends on the operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is City of Schertz radio encrypted?
Yes. City of Schertz uses P25 AES-256 encryption. This agency encrypts some of its communications while leaving others open. Which channels are affected depends on the operation.
Can I listen to City of Schertz on a police scanner?
Partially. City of Schertz 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 Schertz encrypt their radio?
The reasons offered are almost always the same two: officer safety and operational security. Whether either was tested against a real Guadalupe, Bexar, and Comal 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 Guadalupe, Bexar, and Comal 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 Guadalupe, Bexar, and Comal County officials are policies those officials can revisit when constituents press for it.
What can I do about City of Schertz encryption?
Put the question to whoever signs off on City of Schertz's radio budget: why full encryption rather than a delayed feed or tactical-only channels? File for the recordings and the decision documents alongside it, and link up with neighbours and local reporters in Guadalupe, Bexar, and Comal County so the ask arrives as a group rather than a one-off.