City of Waco
McLennan, Texas
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference flags Waco Police Drug Enforcement 1 and 2 as fully encrypted on HOTRRS, with the special-ops and administration talkgroups partially encrypted, while 1A Dispatch, 1B Criminal Investigations, 1C NCIC and 1F General Talk are listed in the clear.
Encryption Details
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 Waco radio encrypted?
Yes — City of Waco's radio system runs on 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 Waco on a police scanner?
Partially. City of Waco 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 Waco encrypt their radio?
Ask why, and the answer is usually officer safety, sometimes operational security. What is harder to obtain is any documented case in McLennan County where an open channel caused harm. The costs need no such documentation: reporting on other agency response slows down, and mutual-aid coordination gets more awkward, immediately.
Can McLennan County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes. Whoever made this call for City of Waco can also unmake it; there's no technical lock-in. The approach that has worked elsewhere combines public-records requests, direct council pressure, and a coordinated local coalition.
What can I do about City of Waco encryption?
Ask for the paperwork first — the policy that authorised encryption for City of Waco, 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 McLennan County with you.