Atlanta Police Scanner Deep Dive: Dark Since 2021
Atlanta—Georgia's capital and largest city—fully encrypted police communications in 2021. While Augusta, Columbus, and Macon maintain transparency, the metro Atlanta area has gone dark. The encryption comes amid controversial surveillance expansion, including the proposed "Cop City" training facility and the Atlanta Police Foundation's extensive private funding of police technology.
The Georgia Paradox: Capital Goes Dark, Other Cities Stay Open
Metro Atlanta (Encrypted)
- Atlanta Police Department - Encrypted 2021
- Georgia State Patrol - Encrypted 2020
- Fulton County Sheriff - Encrypted 2021
- DeKalb County Police - Partial encryption
- Cobb County Police - Partial encryption
- Gwinnett County Police - Partial encryption
Rest of Georgia (Largely Open)
- Augusta PD - Open (2nd largest city)
- Columbus PD - Open (3rd largest city)
- Macon-Bibb County - Open (4th largest)
- Albany PD - Mostly open
- Rural Georgia - Almost entirely open
- Coastal communities - Mostly open
Georgia's 2nd, 3rd, and 4th largest cities all maintain scanner access. Atlanta's encryption was a choice, not a necessity.
Atlanta's Encryption Timeline
The Atlanta Police Foundation: Private Money, Public Silence
The Atlanta Police Foundation (APF) plays a unique and controversial role in Atlanta policing. This private nonprofit funds police technology, surveillance systems, and the proposed Cop City training facility—all while operating with limited transparency.
The APF operates COMNET—a security communications network that links private security guards to APD dispatch. While private businesses can buy radio access for $750 plus annual fees, the public has zero access to monitor the police department their taxes fund.
The irony is stark: corporations can purchase radio access to APD, but residents cannot listen to public safety communications. Private entities have more access to police operations than the citizens of Atlanta.
Cop City and Surveillance Expansion
The Atlanta Public Safety Training Center—dubbed "Cop City" by opponents—represents a $109 million expansion of police infrastructure. The project has sparked sustained protests and raised serious questions about surveillance and militarization.
Surveillance Network
Atlanta is described as the most-surveilled city in the U.S., with more cameras per capita than nearly anywhere outside China. The APF has pushed for "unprecedented" surveillance expansion.
RICO Charges Against Protesters
Georgia prosecutors have used racketeering laws against Cop City protesters, raising concerns about criminalizing dissent. Encryption prevents independent monitoring of police response to protests.
Transparency Court Victory
In June 2025, a Georgia court ruled that the APF must comply with public records requests about its Cop City involvement. The Electronic Frontier Foundation and Atlanta Community Press Collective were key plaintiffs.
Community Control Campaigns
The ACLU of Georgia is pushing for Community Control over Police Surveillance (CCOPS) laws—legislation passed in 26 jurisdictions nationwide—to require public input before new surveillance technologies are adopted.
Metro Atlanta Agency Status
The Atlanta metropolitan area includes 29 counties with a combined population over 6 million. Here's the encryption status of major agencies:
| Agency | Status | Coverage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Police Department | Encrypted | 500K | State capital; P25 system since 2021 |
| Georgia State Patrol | Encrypted | Statewide | All troop communications encrypted |
| Fulton County Sheriff | Encrypted | 1.1M | Atlanta core county; encrypted 2021 |
| DeKalb County Police | Partial | 760K | East Atlanta suburbs; mixed status |
| Cobb County Police | Partial | 770K | Northwest metro; transitioning |
| Gwinnett County Police | Partial | 950K | Northeast metro; partial encryption |
| Clayton County Police | Encrypted | 300K | South metro; airport area |
| MARTA Transit Police | Partial | Regional | Some dispatch accessible |
Augusta, Columbus, Macon: Georgia's Open City Models
While metro Atlanta encrypted, Georgia's other major cities chose a different path. These cities prove that encryption is a policy choice, not a technical necessity.
Augusta (Pop. 200K)
Georgia's second-largest city maintains open police communications. Augusta's military presence (Fort Eisenhower) and medical community haven't pushed for encryption. Richmond County Sheriff also remains open.
Columbus (Pop. 200K)
Georgia's third-largest city keeps scanners open. Bordering Alabama, Columbus demonstrates that transparency works even in military towns (Fort Moore). Muscogee County remains accessible.
Macon-Bibb (Pop. 155K)
The consolidated Macon-Bibb County government maintains open communications. Central Georgia's largest city is proof that mid-size Southern departments can preserve transparency.
Three of Georgia's four largest cities maintain open or mostly open scanners. Atlanta stands alone in choosing total darkness.
Impact on Atlanta Communities
Local Media
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, WSB-TV, and other Atlanta media adapted to encryption in 2021. Breaking news now relies entirely on official police statements rather than real-time scanner monitoring.
Cop City Protesters
With encrypted police communications, protesters and legal observers cannot monitor police movements or tactical decisions during demonstrations. This creates significant safety concerns for peaceful assembly.
Civil Rights Organizations
Groups like the ACLU of Georgia and the Atlanta Community Press Collective cannot independently document police response to incidents. They must rely on official accounts or after-the-fact records requests.
Neighborhood Safety
Residents in high-crime areas have no real-time information about active incidents. During shootings or other emergencies, they cannot monitor police response or know when it's safe.
Political Coverage
As Georgia's political importance has grown, encryption limits coverage of police activity at rallies and political events. The 2020 election disputes and subsequent events were covered without scanner access.
Police Accountability
Without real-time access, communities cannot independently verify police accounts of incidents. The 2020 Rayshard Brooks shooting was documented by witnesses—future incidents may not be.
What Georgians Can Do
If you're an Atlanta resident, journalist, or community member concerned about scanner encryption:
- Support CCOPS legislation: the ACLU of Georgia is pushing for Community Control over Police Surveillance laws. Contact your state representative and city council member.
- File public records requests under the Georgia Open Records Act asking for documentation of encryption decisions, costs, and policies.
- Celebrate open cities: Augusta, Columbus, and Macon prove transparency works. Publicly recognize these departments and use them as examples in advocacy.
- Engage the Atlanta Police Foundation: the 2025 court ruling opens the door to transparency about APF's role in police technology decisions.
- Support local journalism by subscribing to outlets like the Atlanta Community Press Collective that are fighting for access and transparency.
- If encryption has affected your access to public safety information, document your experience and share with advocacy organizations.
- Attend Atlanta City Council and Fulton County Commission meetings, which accept public comment on police policy matters.
- Contact state legislators: Georgia's General Assembly could establish transparency standards for police communications.
Take Action for Transparency
Your voice matters. Here are concrete ways to advocate for open police communications in your community.
Contact Your Representatives
Use our templates to email your local officials about police radio encryption policies.
Get StartedRead Case Studies
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Public Testimony
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Prepare to SpeakRelated Resources
Sources & Further Reading
- RadioReference.com: Atlanta Public Safety P25 Trunking System
- ACLU of Georgia: "Protect Our Privacy: Pass Community Control over Police Surveillance"
- Electronic Frontier Foundation: "Georgia Court Rules for Transparency over Private Police Foundation"
- Atlanta Community Press Collective: Atlanta Police Foundation surveillance reporting
- Atlanta Police Foundation: COMNET Security Network program documentation
- Georgia Open Records Act compliance resources
- Broadcastify: Atlanta Metro Area scanner archives