Monmouth County: Full Encryption, No Public Access

Full Encryption, No Selective Use

Monmouth County's P25 trunking system carries encrypted talkgroups across dispatch, tactical, and administrative channels, per RadioReference. Unlike counties that have adopted hybrid approaches—encrypting sensitive tactical channels while keeping routine dispatch accessible—Monmouth's system runs without an open public channel.

This isn't a technical limitation. P25 digital radio systems easily support selective encryption, allowing departments to protect undercover operations and sensitive tactical communications while maintaining public access to routine calls. No public statement from Sheriff Shaun Golden explaining the specific policy rationale for the county's approach was found.

The Monmouth County System

Monmouth County operates a P25 digital radio system covering the Sheriff's Office and numerous municipal departments. The system is technically capable of selective encryption—the standard compromise position advocated by press freedom organizations nationwide.

Instead, everything is locked:

• Sheriff's Office dispatch — encrypted
• Sheriff's tactical channels — encrypted
• Sheriff's administrative communications — encrypted
• Municipal department communications — following the sheriff's lead, encrypted

What 620,000 Residents Lost

Monmouth County's population exceeds 620,000 people. These residents have lost:

The Hybrid Alternative Not Used Here

The Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) and press freedom organizations nationwide advocate a straightforward compromise:

This approach is used successfully in departments across the country. It addresses the legitimate security concerns law enforcement raises while preserving the public access that enables journalism, accountability, and emergency awareness.

Monmouth County's system does not use this approach — it carries no unencrypted public channel. No public statement from Sheriff Golden explaining the policy rationale was found; the county's choice is reflected in RadioReference's talkgroup listings rather than in any documented public statement.

No Evidence, Full Encryption

Monmouth County encrypted without documenting any scanner-related harm

When departments encrypt, they claim it's necessary for officer safety. When asked for documentation—specific incidents where scanner access compromised an operation or endangered an officer—they have none.

Monmouth County is no exception. The encryption decision was made without evidence that public scanner access had ever caused harm. It was made because it could cause harm, theoretically, someday, perhaps.

Meanwhile, documented benefits of open radio—breaking news coverage, independent accountability, emergency awareness—get eliminated on the basis of speculation.

What Monmouth County Residents Can Do

• Contact the Board of County Commissioners, which can influence sheriff's office policy through budget and oversight
• Attend public meetings and ask directly about the county's encryption policy and whether a hybrid approach was considered
• Submit OPRA requests for documentation of any incidents where scanner access caused harm
• Support local journalism—encrypted departments require more investigative resources to cover, and outlets doing that work need support
• Connect with the ACLU-NJ, NJ Press Association, and RTDNA, which fight encryption across the state
• Vote—sheriff is an elected position, and encryption policy is on the ballot