Berkeley County Sheriff
Berkeley, West Virginia
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference lists Berkeley County Sheriff dispatch and its "1123 | Berkeley Co SOPv | Sheriff - Private" talkgroup in the clear, while the four tactical channels "1141 | BerkeleyCo SO T1" and "1143 | SO T2" (both "T Enc") and "1144 | SO T3" and "1146 | SO T4" (both "D Enc") are encrypted — so the encryption sits on tactical, not on the sheriff's private channel.
Encryption Details
Berkeley County Context
Of the 2 public-safety agencies we track in Berkeley County, Berkeley County Sheriff is currently the only one we have flagged as encrypted.
See every agency we track in Berkeley County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
Only the tactical side is closed. SWAT callouts and sensitive operations are encrypted; ordinary calls for service may still reach a scanner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Berkeley County Sheriff radio encrypted?
Yes — Berkeley County Sheriff's radio system runs on P25 AES-256 encryption. Only the tactical side is closed. SWAT callouts and sensitive operations are encrypted; ordinary calls for service may still reach a scanner.
Can I listen to Berkeley County Sheriff on a police scanner?
Partially. Berkeley County Sheriff encrypts its tactical channels, so some channels may still be accessible. Check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.
Why did Berkeley County Sheriff encrypt their radio?
Departments typically point to officer safety and operational security. Neither claim tends to come with evidence specific to Berkeley County; what's verifiable is what's lost — journalists can't monitor sheriff's office activity in real time, and coordination with agencies that stay unencrypted gets harder.
Can Berkeley 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 Berkeley County Sheriff encryption?
Contact the officials who oversee Berkeley County Sheriff'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 Berkeley County, or start one, since agencies respond differently to organized, sustained pressure than to individual complaints.