Atlanta Police Scanner: Mostly Open—and Worth Defending
Contrary to a widely repeated claim, Atlanta police radio is not fully encrypted and never was. APD dispatch, Atlanta Fire, MARTA, and Hartsfield-Jackson all broadcast in the clear, making metro Atlanta one of the better large-metro scanner markets in the country. The real dead zones are Cobb County, Gwinnett County, and the Georgia State Patrol's move off the radio airwaves entirely. Here is what scanner access actually looks like across the Southeast's largest metro area.
What Atlanta listeners can monitor
A lot. APD's six zones, Atlanta Fire, MARTA, the Hartsfield-Jackson airport precinct, Grady EMS, and almost all of DeKalb County broadcast in the clear. The catch: everything runs on P25 Phase II simulcast, which defeats older digital scanners. See our full Atlanta scanner buying guide for the details—the short version is below.
Atlanta Metro at a Glance
Metro Atlanta is mostly open. The region's 29 counties hold over 6 million residents, making it the largest media market in the Southeast—and unlike Chicago, Denver, or Boston, its core city agencies still broadcast in the clear. APD's six zones, Atlanta Fire, MARTA, the airport, and nearly all of DeKalb County are monitorable today.
The dead zones sit at the edges. Cobb County encrypted full-time in a 2025–2026 rollout, Gwinnett County encrypts most of its current P25 system, and the Georgia State Patrol left the radio airwaves entirely for a cellular LTE network in 2024. That's the pattern worth watching: the open core is an asset to defend, not a relic.
2020: the year Atlanta police faced scrutiny
George Floyd protests begin in Atlanta
Demonstrators gathered in downtown Atlanta following George Floyd's murder. Protests spread across the city, with CNN Center and businesses damaged. Scanner listeners tracked police response in real-time.
Rayshard Brooks killed by Atlanta police
Officers shot Rayshard Brooks at a Wendy's restaurant. The incident was captured on bodycam, but scanner communications during the response provided additional context. Police Chief Erika Shields resigned the next day.
"Blue flu" and scanner monitoring
Following charges against the officer who shot Brooks, approximately 170 Atlanta officers called in sick. For the evening of June 19, every officer in Zone 5 failed to report for duty. Scanner listeners documented this unprecedented situation—the kind of independent verification that's only possible because APD dispatch broadcasts in the clear, then and now.
The "full encryption" myth takes hold
A claim that APD "fully encrypted in 2021" began circulating online and got repeated widely—including, previously, on this site. It has no supporting source. The live RadioReference database shows every APD zone dispatch, supervisor, FIT, Tac, and emergency talkgroup in the clear; only about seven investigative and tactical talkgroups (SWAT, Hostage, Homicide, Narcotics Surveillance, Vice, Executive Protection) carry full-time encryption.
Georgia State Patrol leaves the airwaves
GSP migrated to the SouthernLinc LTE cellular network. Not encryption—a complete departure from the public radio spectrum. A statewide agency became unmonitorable overnight, with only clear backup talkgroups on the DeKalb County system remaining.
Cobb County goes dark
The big recent change in the metro: Cobb County rolled out full-time encryption across county PD, Sheriff, Fire, Marietta, Smyrna, and Kennesaw on the Cobb Regional Radio System. Only EMS remnants—Metro EMS, Puckett EMS, UASI EMS—stay clear.
"Cop City" and the Transparency Battle
The controversy over Atlanta's Public Safety Training Center, known to critics as "Cop City," exposed how far the city would go to block oversight. When journalists sought records about the $115 million facility, the resistance was immediate.
Open records lawsuit
The Atlanta Community Press Collective and Lucy Parsons Labs sued for records after the Atlanta Police Foundation refused to comply with Georgia's Open Records Act. APF CEO Dave Wilkinson argued that journalism would be used to "terrorize" companies building the facility—essentially claiming that reporting is terrorism.
Court ruling for transparency
In June 2025, a Fulton County judge ordered the Atlanta Police Foundation to release 15 unredacted public records. The ruling was a win for journalists and accountability advocates.
Police surveillance of protesters
Records obtained by the Brennan Center revealed that Atlanta police compiled 155 intelligence reports monitoring Stop Cop City protesters, sharing information with the FBI, DHS, and universities. Over two-thirds targeted peaceful protest activities.
Media structural conflicts
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is owned by Cox Enterprises, a major donor to the Atlanta Police Foundation. Independent outlets like the Atlanta Community Press Collective filled the local reporting vacuum.
Atlanta Metro Agency Status
| Agency | Type | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Police Department | Police | Open | All Zone 1–6 dispatch, supervisor, FIT, Tac, and emergency talkgroups in the clear; only ~7 investigative/tactical talkgroups encrypted |
| Atlanta Fire Rescue | Fire | Open | All talkgroups clear; live Broadcastify feed available |
| MARTA Police | Transit | Open | Zero encrypted talkgroups on the MARTA P25 system |
| Hartsfield-Jackson Airport | Airport | Open | APD airport precinct, airport fire, FAA crash phone, and airfield ops all clear; ATC airband always clear |
| DeKalb County | Police/Fire | Open | 146 of 152 talkgroups clear—the most open metro county, including all precincts, fire, sheriff, and the Decatur/Brookhaven/Chamblee/Dunwoody/Doraville PDs |
| Fulton County | County | Partial | County PD dispatch, South Fulton PD, and Fulton Fire clear; Sheriff partially encrypted; Johns Creek PD fully encrypted |
| Cobb County | County | Encrypted | Encrypted full-time in a 2025–2026 rollout: PD, Sheriff, Fire, Marietta, Smyrna, Kennesaw. EMS remnants stay clear |
| Gwinnett County Police | Police | Encrypted | 57 of 70 talkgroups encrypted on the current P25 system (prior EDACS ProVoice system was unscannable but not encrypted) |
| Georgia State Patrol | State | Encrypted | Migrated to SouthernLinc LTE in 2024—off the scanner airwaves entirely; clear backup talkgroups exist on the DeKalb system |
| Georgia Tech Police | Campus | Partial | Primarily on State of Georgia P25 system |
Connect Radio: the pay-to-play alternative
The Atlanta Police Foundation runs Connect Radio (COMNET), a program that gives authorized private security companies two-way access to APD communications. It's sometimes cited as evidence that APD went dark and sold access back to insiders. That's not what it is: APD dispatch is in the clear, and anyone with a P25 scanner can hear it for free. COMNET sells direct radio coordination, not listening access.
This is not press access—and the press doesn't need it. Connect Radio was created for security coordination. Journalists monitoring Atlanta police in real-time can do what the public does: listen to APD's clear dispatch talkgroups with a P25-capable scanner.
Metro Atlanta: county by county
Fulton County
PartialHome to Atlanta proper. County PD dispatch, South Fulton PD, and Fulton Fire are clear on the Fulton P25 system. The Sheriff is partially encrypted, and Johns Creek PD is the county's one fully encrypted department.
Gwinnett County
EncryptedGeorgia's second most populous county encrypts 57 of 70 talkgroups on its current P25 system. The "encrypted since 2008" claim is a myth—Gwinnett ran EDACS ProVoice for years, which scanners couldn't decode but which wasn't encryption.
DeKalb County
Mostly OpenThe most open county in the metro: 146 of 152 talkgroups are clear, including every police precinct, fire, the sheriff, and the Decatur, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Dunwoody, and Doraville PDs.
Cobb County
Encrypted 2025–2026The metro's big recent loss. County PD, Sheriff, Fire, Marietta, Smyrna, and Kennesaw all went full-time encrypted on the Cobb Regional Radio System. Clear remnants: Metro EMS, Puckett EMS, and UASI EMS.
State Patrol
LTE - Off the AirGeorgia State Patrol migrated to SouthernLinc LTE in 2024. This isn't encryption—it's cellular, and GSP traffic isn't on the scanner airwaves at all. Clear backup talkgroups survive on the DeKalb system.
Airport & Transit
OpenAt Hartsfield-Jackson, the APD airport precinct, airport fire, FAA crash phone, and airfield ops are all clear—and ATC airband is always clear. MARTA police have zero encrypted talkgroups on the MARTA P25 system.
Civil rights city, open airwaves—for now
In the city where Dr. King organized for civil rights, real-time public oversight of the police department still works: APD dispatch is in the clear. That's worth saying plainly, because the opposite claim circulates constantly. The accountability fight in metro Atlanta isn't about restoring lost access in the city—it's about defending what's open and reversing the losses at the edges.
Independent monitoring still works
The Atlanta Citizen Review Board has had limited authority since its 2007 founding, but residents, journalists, and legal observers can still independently monitor APD dispatch—the same access that let scanner listeners document the 2020 "blue flu."
The losses are at the edges
Cobb County's 2025–2026 encryption rollout and Gwinnett's encrypted P25 system mean roughly 1.7 million suburban residents have lost the oversight tool Atlanta proper still has.
GSP's quiet exit
The starkest accountability problem is the Georgia State Patrol leaving the public airwaves for a private LTE network in 2024. A statewide agency with a documented history of force controversies now operates with zero real-time public visibility.
Media market stakes
Atlanta is the Southeast's largest media market. WSB-TV, 11Alive, and the AJC can still pull real-time breaking news from APD and DeKalb scanner traffic—an advantage newsrooms in Chicago, Denver, and Boston have lost. That's exactly what's at stake if Atlanta ever follows Cobb.
Technical details for scanner listeners
Atlanta Public Safety P25 system
City-owned Motorola P25 Phase II trunked simulcast system on 800 MHz, running "Dynamic Dual Mode" (talkgroups flip between Phase I and Phase II). It carries APD, Atlanta Fire, Hartsfield-Jackson, Grady EMS city channels, and Hapeville, East Point, and College Park. All APD zone dispatch is clear; only ~7 investigative/tactical talkgroups are encrypted.
Georgia State Patrol
Migrated to SouthernLinc LTE in 2024. This is NOT P25—it's cellular-based and cannot be monitored by any scanner. GSP's backup talkgroups on the DeKalb County system remain in the clear.
Simulcast and scanner choice
Every major system in the metro is P25 Phase II simulcast, which causes decode problems on older digital scanners. An SDS100-class scanner with true I/Q reception is the recommendation; a BCD436HP works in strong-signal areas with documented simulcast issues. Analog scanners are useless here except for airband. Full breakdown in our Atlanta scanner buying guide.
What you can hear
All six APD zones, Atlanta Fire (with a live Broadcastify feed), MARTA, the Hartsfield-Jackson airport precinct and airfield ops, Grady EMS, and 146 of 152 DeKalb County talkgroups. Check RadioReference Atlanta Metro for current status—metro Atlanta is one of the better large-metro scanner markets in the country.
Fight back: restore scanner access in Atlanta
Atlanta's encryption is a policy decision by city leadership, not a technical requirement. Georgia residents can push back and point to Augusta, Columbus, and Macon as working proof that major cities don't need to go dark.
Contact Atlanta City Council
Atlanta's 15 council members have oversight over APD policies. Ask them directly why encryption was implemented without public debate and whether they'll create journalist access provisions.
File open records requests
Use Georgia's Open Records Act to request any documented cases where scanner access harmed officers or victims. The Cop City litigation shows these requests can win in court.
Support the Atlanta Community Press Collective
Independent local outlets are filling the gap that encrypted scanners and conflicted mainstream media have left. Direct financial support keeps that reporting going.
Engage the Georgia General Assembly
Push for state legislation with public access provisions for police communications. Colorado's media access law is a working model Georgia could follow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Atlanta Police Department radio encrypted?
Mostly no. All APD Zone 1–6 dispatch, supervisor, FIT, Tac, and emergency talkgroups are digital but unencrypted on the city's Atlanta Public Safety P25 system. Only about seven investigative and tactical talkgroups—SWAT, Hostage, Homicide, Narcotics Surveillance, Vice, and Executive Protection—are encrypted full-time. The widely repeated claim that APD 'fully encrypted in 2021' has no supporting source.
Can I listen to Atlanta police scanners online?
Yes. Because APD dispatch is in the clear, live online feeds carry Atlanta police and fire traffic, including an Atlanta Fire Rescue feed on Broadcastify. A P25 Phase II–capable scanner picks up the same traffic directly.
What scanner do I need for Atlanta?
Everything in metro Atlanta runs on P25 Phase II simulcast systems, which trip up older digital scanners. An SDS100-class scanner with true I/Q reception is the safe choice. A BCD436HP works in strong-signal areas but has documented simulcast distortion issues. Analog-only scanners are useless here except for aviation airband.
Is Gwinnett County police radio encrypted?
Yes. On Gwinnett's current P25 system, 57 of 70 talkgroups are encrypted. The often-cited 'encrypted since 2008' date is wrong: for years Gwinnett ran an EDACS ProVoice system that consumer scanners couldn't decode, but that was a proprietary format, not encryption. The actual encryption is on the current P25 system.
What about DeKalb and Cobb County police scanners?
They've gone opposite directions. DeKalb is the most open county in the metro—146 of 152 talkgroups are clear, covering all police precincts, fire, the sheriff, and the Decatur, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Dunwoody, and Doraville PDs. Cobb encrypted full-time in a 2025–2026 rollout covering county PD, Sheriff, Fire, Marietta, Smyrna, and Kennesaw; only EMS remnants like Metro EMS, Puckett EMS, and UASI EMS stay clear.
Is Georgia State Patrol encrypted?
No—it's worse than encrypted. GSP migrated to the SouthernLinc LTE cellular network in 2024, which means its traffic isn't on the scanner airwaves at all. That's not encryption; it's a state agency leaving the public radio spectrum entirely. GSP's backup talkgroups on the DeKalb County system remain in the clear.
Is MARTA police radio encrypted?
No. The MARTA P25 system has zero encrypted talkgroups. Transit police, rail, and bus operations are all monitorable.
What is Connect Radio / COMNET in Atlanta?
Connect Radio (COMNET) is run by the Atlanta Police Foundation and gives authorized private security companies two-way access to APD communications. It requires a $240/year subscription plus a $750 radio purchase. It's sometimes cited as proof APD went dark, but it isn't—the public can still hear APD dispatch with an ordinary P25 scanner.