Wyoming Highway Patrol
Statewide, Wyoming
How we verified this
WyoLink's 'Highway Patrol' talkgroup category shows each troop's primary Dispatch 1/2 and Car-to-Car channels unmarked (clear), while separate dedicated 'Secure' channels per troop (e.g. 'WHP AXO ENC', 'WHP TAC 2 ENC') are flagged 'Enc' -- a clear dispatch/encrypted-tactical split rather than full encryption. A live Broadcastify feed for the Gillette/Campbell County troop independently corroborates by streaming 'Wyoming Highway Patrol Dispatch' (talkgroup 19879) live and unencrypted.
Encryption Details
What This Means
Encryption here is a mixed bag: some talkgroups are locked, others aren't. It varies by channel and by what the department is doing at the time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wyoming Highway Patrol radio encrypted?
Yes. Wyoming Highway Patrol uses P25 AES-256 encryption. Encryption here is a mixed bag: some talkgroups are locked, others aren't. It varies by channel and by what the department is doing at the time.
Can I listen to Wyoming Highway Patrol on a police scanner?
Partially. Wyoming Highway Patrol encrypts some of its talkgroups while leaving others open, so some channels may still be accessible. Check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.
Why did Wyoming Highway Patrol 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 state agency response as it happens.
Can Statewide 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 Statewide County officials are policies those officials can revisit when constituents press for it.
What can I do about Wyoming Highway Patrol encryption?
File a FOIA request for Wyoming Highway Patrol's radio recordings and encryption-decision paperwork, then show up to speak at a council or commission meeting. Find other residents or journalists in Statewide County who want the same access — state legislation requiring public radio access is the longer-term fix, but organized local pressure is what usually moves the needle first.