Milton Police
Chittenden, Vermont
How we verified this
As of August 2026 Milton's only police channel, "460.400 Milton PDEn | Police Operations", is listed in P25E (encrypted) mode, while Milton Fire and the rescue squad are analog FMN in the clear.
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
Chittenden County Context
Milton Police isn't an outlier here: 6 of the 6 public-safety agencies we track in Chittenden County are fully encrypted (100%), so most departments nearby have made the same move.
See every agency we track in Chittenden 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 Milton Police radio encrypted?
Yes — Milton Police's radio system runs on P25 AES-256 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 Milton Police on a police scanner?
No. Milton Police has fully encrypted their radio communications using P25 AES-256. No consumer scanner can decode encrypted transmissions.
Why did Milton Police encrypt their radio?
Officer safety and operational security are the reasons agencies give. What rarely comes with that explanation is Chittenden County-specific evidence that open communications ever caused a problem, while the loss of public oversight and the friction with still-unencrypted neighboring agencies are both immediate and real.
Can Chittenden County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes. Encryption is a policy choice made by department leadership or elected officials, not a technical requirement, so it can be reversed the same way. Public pressure, city council advocacy, and organized local coalitions have reversed encryption decisions elsewhere.
What can I do about Milton Police encryption?
Contact the officials who oversee Milton Police's budget directly and ask why full encryption was chosen over partial alternatives. Pair that with a FOIA request for recordings and policy records, and look for an existing coalition in Chittenden County, or start one, since agencies respond differently to organized, sustained pressure than to individual complaints.