Williston Police
Chittenden, Vermont
How we verified this
As of August 2026 Williston's only police channel, "453.850 Williston PD | Police Operations", is listed in P25E (encrypted) mode, while Williston Fire remains analog FMN in the clear.
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
Chittenden County Context
Williston 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
All traffic, including the day-to-day dispatch that used to be the public's window into police activity, now runs encrypted. Nothing from this department is receivable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Williston Police radio encrypted?
Yes — Williston Police's radio system runs on P25 AES-256 encryption. All traffic, including the day-to-day dispatch that used to be the public's window into police activity, now runs encrypted. Nothing from this department is receivable.
Can I listen to Williston Police on a police scanner?
No. Williston Police has fully encrypted their radio communications using P25 AES-256. No consumer scanner can decode encrypted transmissions.
Why did Williston Police encrypt their radio?
Departments typically point to officer safety and operational security. Neither claim tends to come with evidence specific to Chittenden County; what's verifiable is what's lost — journalists can't monitor police department activity in real time, and coordination with agencies that stay unencrypted gets harder.
Can Chittenden 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 Williston Police encryption?
Contact the officials who oversee Williston 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.