Milwaukee Police Encryption: America's First Major City to Go Dark
In February 2010, Milwaukee became the first major American city to fully encrypt police radio communications. Fifteen years later, that decision has been replicated by departments nationwide. Milwaukee didn't just encrypt its police radio. It wrote the playbook for a national transparency crisis.
The Pioneer City
When Milwaukee Police Department activated its Harris OpenSky digital radio system in February 2010, it made history. Not the kind of history civic leaders celebrate, but the kind that changes how democracy functions.
Milwaukee became the first major city in America to completely encrypt police communications. The system cost over $18 million, exceeded its original budget by millions, and arrived years behind schedule. But from the department's perspective, it delivered something invaluable: total radio silence.
For 80 years, since police radio station WPDK began broadcasting in 1930, Milwaukee residents could monitor their police department. Scanner hobbyists, journalists, neighborhood watch groups, and concerned citizens all had access to the same information. Then, overnight, that access vanished.
The Justification That Launched a Movement
Department spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz explained the reasoning in 2010:
"We have found scanners in gang houses, drug houses... In post-9/11 law enforcement, we have to reconsider public access to our information."
This argument would become the template for departments across America. Despite zero documented cases of criminals using scanners to harm officers, the claim persists. Milwaukee pioneered not just the technology, but the justification.
The OpenSky Problem
Milwaukee's choice of the Harris OpenSky system was unusual. Most police departments use the P25 standard, which allows for both encrypted and unencrypted channels. OpenSky is a proprietary system that cannot be monitored by any commercially available scanner.
Harris OpenSky (Milwaukee)
- Proprietary, IP-based system
- Cannot be monitored by any scanner
- Each radio has unique IP address
- Used by minority of departments
- Interoperability challenges
- Higher costs, fewer vendors
P25 Standard (Most Agencies)
- Open industry standard
- Encryption optional by channel
- Compatible across vendors
- Used by majority of agencies
- Better interoperability
- Competitive pricing
The OpenSky system has been plagued with problems. Harris radios failed during a presidential visit to Oakland. Las Vegas abandoned the system after wasting $42 million. Milwaukee officers reported persistent radio failures in the field.
In 2025, Milwaukee began transitioning to a P25 Phase II system, but with full encryption enabled. The technology may change, but the secrecy remains.
Timeline: From Innovation to Imitation
Milwaukee Police Radio Begins
Police radio station WPDK launches, broadcasting to 17 squad cars across the city.
OpenSky Contract Signed
Milwaukee contracts with Harris for a new digital radio system. Original budget: under $15 million. Original deadline: 2005.
OpenSky Goes Live
Milwaukee becomes the first major American city to fully encrypt police radio. Over 4 million transmissions made in the first year.
Final Cost Revealed
System cost reaches over $18 million, exceeding original budget by 20%. Years of delays preceded implementation.
Body Camera Policy Adopted
Fire and Police Commission adopts SOP 575, requiring video release within 15 days of critical incidents.
FPC Powers Reduced
Wisconsin Act 12 strips the Fire and Police Commission of policy-making authority, transferring power to the police chief.
Video Policy Takes Effect
SOP 575 implemented after Milwaukee Police Association drops lawsuit against mandatory video release.
P25 System Transition Begins
Milwaukee begins migrating from OpenSky to P25 Phase II 700 MHz. Both systems remain encrypted.
Facial Recognition Moratorium
After public pressure, Police Chief bans facial recognition technology following revelations of unauthorized use.
The Accountability Landscape
Milwaukee's encryption exists within a broader accountability context that has only grown more complex since 2010.
Fire and Police Commission: Powers Stripped
The Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission (FPC) was one of the nation's oldest civilian oversight bodies. In July 2023, Wisconsin Act 12 fundamentally changed its role:
- Before Act 12: FPC could prescribe general policies and standards for the police department
- After Act 12: FPC can only "advise the Common Council regarding any recommended policy changes"
- Result: Final authority on policy now lies with the police chief
A 2025 monitoring report found the FPC spent 81% of its meeting time on personnel matters, often in closed sessions, with only 49 minutes dedicated to public comment over a seven-month period.
Surveillance Technology Controversies
In 2025, Milwaukee Police admitted to using facial recognition technology for years without any internal policy, oversight, or Fire and Police Commission knowledge. After community members packed an FPC meeting with nearly three hours of testimony against the technology, the police chief announced a moratorium.
The ACLU of Wisconsin continues advocating for a Community Control Over Police Surveillance (CCOPS) ordinance, which would require democratic approval before police acquire new surveillance tools.
The Video Release Victory
Not all accountability news is negative. In April 2023, the FPC adopted Standard Operating Procedure 575, requiring release of critical incident footage within 15 days.
- 48 hours: Victims' families receive footage
- 15 days: Public release of body camera, 911 calls, and in-car video
The Milwaukee Police Association sued to block the policy, but dropped their lawsuit in July 2024, allowing implementation. This victory shows community pressure can achieve transparency gains, even in a city that pioneered secrecy.
Regional Context: The OASIS System
While Milwaukee proper uses the OpenSky (and now P25) system, suburban departments operate on the OASIS network, a P25 digital system covering Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties.
City of Milwaukee
- Harris OpenSky (2010-2025)
- P25 Phase II (2025+)
- Fully encrypted
- Population: 570,000+
Milwaukee County Sheriff
- OASIS P25 system
- Partial encryption
- Some channels accessible
Suburban Departments
- OASIS P25 system
- Varies by agency
- Wauwatosa, West Allis, Oak Creek, others
Neighboring Ozaukee County fully encrypted in recent years, citing privacy, officer safety, and investigation integrity. Racine, about 30 miles south, encrypted in 2020, becoming another Wisconsin city where journalists lost real-time access.
Impact on Local Journalism
Milwaukee's major news outlets, including TMJ4, CBS 58, FOX6, and WISN, built breaking news coverage on scanner monitoring for decades. Since 2010, that workflow has been fundamentally broken.
The Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) ranks encryption as the number one threat to journalism nationwide. In Milwaukee, that threat became reality 15 years before most departments even considered it.
"For a reporter to ask a question about an event, they first have to have a clue that something was going on, a clue they often got first from a police scanner. Breaking news has been turned into broken news."Racine Journal Times editorial on regional encryption
Milwaukee offers no alternative access. The city provides call-for-service data through online databases, but these:
- Lack real-time updates
- Contain no audio context
- Miss the details that reveal what actually happened
- Cannot verify or contradict official police statements
Why Milwaukee Matters
Milwaukee's decision in 2010 wasn't just about one city. It proved that a major American police department could completely eliminate public access to its communications and face no significant consequences.
In the years since, departments from coast to coast have followed Milwaukee's lead:
- Denver: Cited Milwaukee's example when encrypting in 2022
- Minneapolis: Encrypted in 2025, following the regional trend Milwaukee started
- NYPD: Spent $390 million on encryption, eliminating 92 years of open radio
- Dozens more: From small towns to major metros, encryption spread
Milwaukee didn't just encrypt police radio. It normalized police secrecy as an acceptable default for American law enforcement.
Take Action in Milwaukee
Encryption has been in place for 15 years, but the fight for accountability continues on other fronts:
Engage the Fire and Police Commission
The FPC meets regularly and includes public comment periods. While its powers have been reduced, it remains a venue for public pressure on accountability issues.
FPC Meeting InformationContact Your Alderperson
Milwaukee's Common Council has 15 members who respond to constituent concerns. Push for transparency policies and civilian oversight protections.
Find Your AlderpersonSupport CCOPS Efforts
The ACLU of Wisconsin advocates for Community Control Over Police Surveillance ordinances. Support these efforts to require democratic approval for surveillance technology.
ACLU of WisconsinFile Records Requests
Wisconsin's open records law allows you to request police radio recordings after the fact. Build documentation and identify patterns.
Request TemplatesEngage State Legislators
Push for statewide legislation requiring media access policies before encryption, following Colorado's model.
Find Your LegislatorSupport Local Journalism
Subscribe to local news outlets fighting for transparency. Support investigative journalism that holds power accountable.
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 SpeakFrequently Asked Questions
When did Milwaukee police encrypt their radio communications?
Milwaukee Police Department became the first major city in America to fully encrypt police radio in February 2010. The city implemented the Harris OpenSky digital radio system, which cannot be monitored by any commercially available scanner. The system cost over $18 million and took years longer than expected to implement.
What radio system does Milwaukee Police use?
Milwaukee Police uses the Harris OpenSky digital radio system, a proprietary format that differs from the more common P25 standard. The system uses IP-based TDMA technology with encryption that makes it impossible to monitor with any scanner. In 2025, the city began transitioning to a P25 Phase II 700 MHz system.
Can journalists access Milwaukee police scanner communications?
No. Unlike cities that have implemented delayed feeds or media access policies, Milwaukee offers no public or press access to police radio communications. The city provides call data through online databases, but these lack the real-time context and audio detail that scanner access provides.
Are Milwaukee suburban police departments encrypted?
Suburban departments in Milwaukee County use the OASIS P25 system, which is partially encrypted. The OASIS system covers agencies in both Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties, including Brown Deer, Cudahy, Greenfield, Oak Creek, Wauwatosa, West Allis, and the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office. Encryption status varies by agency and channel.
Sources & Further Reading
- Twin Cities Pioneer Press: "Milwaukee: New police radio inaccessible to public" (March 2010)
- Milwaukee Police Historical Society: Communications Division History
- RadioReference.com: Milwaukee County and OpenSky documentation
- Wisconsin Examiner: FPC monitoring report and accountability coverage
- Racine Journal Times: Regional encryption coverage and editorial
- Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission: Official records and meeting minutes
- ACLU of Wisconsin: CCOPS advocacy materials