Manassas City Police Department
Manassas City, Virginia
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference flags Manassas police dispatch on the Manassas / Manassas Park system as encrypted but still lists the department's alternate and tactical talkgroups in the clear, so the encryption is not department-wide.
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 Manassas City Police Department radio encrypted?
Yes. Manassas City Police Department 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 Manassas City Police Department on a police scanner?
Partially. Manassas City Police Department encrypts some of its talkgroups while leaving others open, so some channels may still be accessible. Check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.
Why did Manassas City Police Department encrypt their radio?
The standard justification nationwide is officer safety and operational security, regardless of whether a documented local incident ever required it. The tradeoff that follows is consistent too: public oversight drops, and reporters lose the ability to track police department response as it happens.
Can Manassas City 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 Manassas City County officials are policies those officials can revisit when constituents press for it.
What can I do about Manassas City Police Department encryption?
Put the question to whoever signs off on Manassas City Police Department'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 Manassas City County so the ask arrives as a group rather than a one-off.