Columbus Police Scanner: How Ohio's Capital Chose Transparency Over Silence
Ohio's capital and largest city faced the same pressures as Chicago, Detroit, and Denver: 2020 protests, high-profile police shootings, and calls for encryption. Columbus went a different direction. The department—the largest in Ohio and among the 25 largest in the country—encrypted tactical channels but kept routine dispatch open, a decision that looks increasingly unusual as peer cities go dark.
The Columbus approach: partial encryption
Unlike Chicago's 30-minute delays or Detroit's complete blackout, Columbus maintained transparency. A senior Columbus Police official confirmed that the department encrypts only SWAT and narcotics tactical channels—not routine dispatch. The reason? "Encryption is very expensive and the costs outweigh the need for full encryption."
This pragmatic approach preserves public access while protecting genuinely sensitive operations.
Columbus by the numbers
Columbus is larger than many cities that have already moved to full encryption:
The Columbus Division of Police serves more residents than the departments in Denver, Seattle, or Boston—all of which have moved toward full encryption. Columbus has kept routine dispatch open anyway.
The 2020 test: protests and accountability
May 2020 tested Columbus like never before. What began as peaceful demonstrations near the Ohio Statehouse in solidarity with nationwide protests against George Floyd's murder turned violent when police and protesters clashed on May 28, 2020.
Protests Begin
Demonstrations start near the Ohio Statehouse. Police response becomes aggressive; pepper spray deployed on peaceful protesters.
Officers Accused of Misconduct
Officers Shaw and Walls accused of pepper-spraying peaceful protesters. Politicians Hardin and Beatty caught in police pepper spray.
City Declares Racism a Public Health Crisis
Police Chief Thomas Quinlan marches with protesters. Mayor Ginther creates independent review system for police aggression.
Three Officers Charged
Special prosecutor charges three CPD officers with assault, dereliction of duty, and interfering with civil rights.
$5.75 Million Settlement
Columbus agrees to pay 32 plaintiffs who claimed officers injured them and violated their rights during protests.
What open radio made possible
Throughout these events, Columbus police radio remained publicly accessible. Journalists could verify what was happening independently, not just through official statements. The accountability that followed—criminal charges against officers, a $5.75 million settlement—depended in part on that information being available in real time.
Two high-profile shootings, two different outcomes
Columbus faced two nationally prominent police shootings in quick succession. How the city responded—and what role transparency played—offers lessons for cities nationwide.
Andre Hill - December 22, 2020
Andre Hill, 47, was shot by Officer Adam Coy while leaving a friend's house. Hill was unarmed, holding only a cell phone. Coy did not activate his body camera before shooting—though the 60-second look-back feature captured video (without audio) of the incident.
- Officer fired: Less than one week later
- Criminal charges: Murder, felonious assault, dereliction of duty
- Conviction: Guilty of murder (November 2024)
- Sentence: 15 years to life (July 2025)
- Settlement: $10 million—largest pretrial police use-of-force settlement in Ohio history
Ma'Khia Bryant - April 20, 2021
Ma'Khia Bryant, 16, was shot by Officer Nicholas Reardon while she was wielding a knife and charging at two women. Body camera footage was released within hours—one of the fastest releases in recent memory.
- Video release: Same day—"perhaps among the fastest releases... in recent memory"
- Interim Chief statement: "We understand the public's need, desire and expectation to have transparency"
- Grand jury: Declined to charge officer (March 2022)
- Ruling: Justified homicide
In the Andre Hill case, the officer was fired within a week and ultimately convicted of murder. In the Ma'Khia Bryant case, the department released body camera footage within hours, giving the public something to evaluate before official narratives set in. Both outcomes required the city to release information quickly and without filtering—which is harder to sustain when you've decided to encrypt your radio traffic.
Andre's Law: transparency codified
The Andre Hill shooting led to concrete policy changes. Columbus City Council passed Andre's Law, requiring:
- Immediate body camera activation at the start of any enforcement action
- Mandatory first aid after use of force incidents
- Automatic camera activation when cruiser lights/sirens engage
By November 2022, Columbus had deployed 1,152 body cameras under these new requirements. The lesson: transparency isn't just about scanner access—it's a systemic commitment.
The Ohio MARCS system: statewide infrastructure
Columbus operates on Ohio MARCS-IP (Multi-Agency Radio Communications System), a statewide 700/800 MHz digital trunked radio network serving over 1,200 public safety agencies with more than 47,500 voice units.
How MARCS Works
- Talkgroups marked "D" (digital) are clear and publicly accessible
- Talkgroups marked "DE" (digital encrypted) are fully encrypted
- Columbus Division of Police uses clear mode for routine dispatch
- Tactical channels (SWAT, narcotics) use encrypted mode
MARCS Costs
- $5/month per radio for local government customers
- ~$1.3 million for agencies transitioning to MARCS
- $4,000-$5,000 per radio unit
- $300 per radio for reprogramming to MARCS
The technology supports encryption, but Columbus chose not to use it for routine communications. Going dark is a policy decision, not a technical inevitability.
Comparison: Ohio's three C's
How does Columbus compare to Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio's other major cities?
| City | Population | Dispatch Status | Tactical Channels | Live Feeds Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | 946,000 | Open | Encrypted | Yes (ScanCBUS, Broadcastify) |
| Cleveland | 367,000 | Partial | Encrypted | Yes (some channels) |
| Cincinnati | 309,000 | Partial | Encrypted | Yes (some channels) |
Ohio's approach differs from states like California, where major cities have gone to full encryption. All three of Ohio's largest cities maintain some level of public access.
Franklin County and regional agencies
Beyond Columbus PD, Franklin County's public safety agencies have varying encryption status:
Columbus Fire Division
Open
Fire and EMS dispatch accessible via MARCS
Franklin County Sheriff
Partial
Main dispatch accessible; some tactical encrypted
Ohio State University Police
Partial
Campus dispatch available; accessible via ScanCBUS
Ohio State Highway Patrol
Partial
Freeway enforcement accessible on MARCS
The new threat: body camera fee barriers
While Columbus maintains scanner transparency, a 2025 Ohio law created a new barrier to accountability. Police departments can now charge up to $75 per hour (max $750 per request) for body camera footage. Columbus Division of Police charges $37 per hour as of September 2025.
Shawna Barnett, sister of Andre Hill, said the law "damages public trust." While routine shootings and major incidents are released free, the fee structure creates barriers for advocates investigating patterns of misconduct.
Maintaining scanner access is essential, but transparency requires vigilance on multiple fronts.
Why Columbus chose differently
A few factors likely explain why Columbus didn't follow Chicago or Detroit:
Cost-benefit judgment
Columbus explicitly determined that full encryption costs outweigh the benefits. A senior CPD official said so on the record. That kind of direct accounting is unusual.
Statewide infrastructure
Ohio MARCS creates interoperability requirements that complicate full encryption. Many Ohio agencies share channels, and unilateral encryption would break those connections.
Political environment after 2020
Following the protests, Columbus was under sustained pressure to improve accountability. Going dark during that period would have been a hard sell.
Reform commitments on paper
Andre's Law and related changes created a transparency framework. Encrypting radio traffic would have directly contradicted commitments the city had just made publicly.
How to listen to Columbus police
Columbus scanner access remains robust. Here are your options:
Protecting what works
Columbus's open dispatch isn't permanent by default. Radio system upgrades and new department leadership can change the picture quickly. These steps can help lock it in:
Engage Columbus City Council
Council members have oversight of police policies. If encryption proposals emerge, attend public comment sessions and communicate with your representative.
Monitor Budget Cycles
Radio system upgrades often trigger encryption discussions. Watch for budget line items related to radio equipment and challenge any encryption requirements.
Budget Intervention GuideSupport Local Journalism
Columbus Dispatch, WBNS-10TV, and other outlets rely on scanner access. Subscribe and support journalists who use scanner data to keep the public informed.
Challenge Fee Barriers
The $37/hour body camera fee creates accountability barriers. Advocate for free access to footage of public interest and reduced processing fees.
Document the System Working
When scanner access enables journalism or community awareness, document it. Build a record showing that transparency serves public safety.
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
See how encryption has affected real communities - from Highland Park to Chicago.
View CasesSpread Awareness
Share evidence about police radio encryption with your network and community.
Public Testimony
Learn how to speak effectively at city council and public safety meetings.
Prepare to SpeakLearn more about police radio encryption
Sources & Further Reading
- RadioReference Forums: Columbus Police Encryption Discussion
- ScanCBUS: Columbus Police Scanner Coverage
- Columbus Dispatch: Coverage of 2020 protests and police accountability
- WOSU Public Media: Ohio body camera fee legislation analysis
- 10TV: Columbus Division of Police staffing and budget reporting
- NBC4i: Columbus police settlement and reform coverage
- ABC News: Andre Hill and Ma'Khia Bryant case coverage
- NPR: Columbus body camera policy analysis
- Ohio Auditor of State: MARCS Performance Audit (April 2023)
- Wikipedia: George Floyd protests in Columbus, Ohio; Murder of Andre Hill; Killing of Ma'Khia Bryant
- All Columbus Data: Population estimates and metro area statistics