Police Encryption in New Jersey
New Jersey has rapidly become one of the most encrypted states in America. Our March 2026 database update discovered 45 new encrypted agencies—more than any other state. Here's what's happening in the Garden State.
New Jersey at a Glance
New Jersey's police encryption landscape changed dramatically in recent years. The state's investment in the NJICS (New Jersey Interoperability Communications System) created a turnkey encryption solution that local departments can join without major infrastructure costs. The result: rapid, widespread encryption that often bypasses public debate.
Unlike California where encryption required expensive city-by-city radio upgrades, New Jersey's centralized approach means a township council can encrypt their police department with a simple administrative decision. This has led to a "quiet encryption" phenomenon where communities don't realize they've lost scanner access until it's gone.
NJICS: The Statewide Encryption Engine
New Jersey Interoperability Communications System
Statewide P25 NetworkNJICS was designed to solve interoperability problems—allowing state police, local departments, and emergency services to communicate across jurisdictions. However, its encryption capabilities have transformed it into a vehicle for widespread radio secrecy.
Why it matters: When a department joins NJICS, encryption becomes trivially easy. There's no expensive radio replacement needed—just a policy decision. This removes the traditional cost barrier that slowed encryption in other states.
New Jersey Agencies
| Agency | Status | Coverage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey State Police | Encrypted | Statewide | All operations fully encrypted on NJICS |
| Newark Police Department | Encrypted | 310K | Largest city in NJ; fully encrypted |
| Jersey City Police | Encrypted | 290K | Second largest city; encrypted on NJICS |
| Trenton Police Department | Encrypted | 90K | 15 encrypted talkgroups on NJICS (discovered 2026) |
| Perth Amboy Police | Encrypted | 55K | 6 encrypted talkgroups discovered 2026 |
| Carteret Borough Police | Encrypted | 25K | 6 talkgroups on Middlesex County system |
| Ocean County Prosecutor | Encrypted | 660K | 6 encrypted talkgroups on Ocean County P25 |
| Lacey Township Police | Encrypted | 30K | All channels encrypted since Dec 2021; blotter reduced to monthly |
| Barnegat Township Police | Encrypted | 25K | Fully encrypted on Ocean County P25 |
| Ocean Township Police (Waretown) | Encrypted | 9K | All channels encrypted on Ocean County P25 |
| New Brunswick Police | Encrypted | 56K | Aug 2025 fatal shooting under encryption; AG investigating |
| Monmouth County Sheriff | Encrypted | 640K | Sheriff Golden: 100% encryption, no compromise |
| Highland Park Police | Encrypted | 14K | 5 talkgroups on Middlesex system |
| Metuchen Police Department | Encrypted | 14K | 5 talkgroups on Middlesex system |
| Middlesex Borough Police | Encrypted | 14K | 5 talkgroups on Middlesex system |
| Plainsboro Township Police | Encrypted | 25K | 5 talkgroups on Middlesex system |
| Camden County Police | Encrypted | 525K | County-wide encryption |
| Atlantic City Police | Encrypted | 40K | Casino district fully encrypted |
| Plainfield Police | Encrypted | 55K | Full-time strapped encryption on all talkgroups |
| Rahway Police | Encrypted | 30K | Full-time non-selectable encryption on NJICS |
| Vineland Police | Encrypted | 60K | Migrated to NJICS; TG 3601 encrypted |
| Lavallette Police | Encrypted | 2K | Fully encrypted; prosecutor took over dept 2021-2023 |
| Lakewood Police | Partial | 135K | Selective encryption; civil rights lawsuits; corruption allegations |
| Jackson Township Police | Encrypted | 58K | Fully encrypted; $2M chief settlement; excessive force lawsuits |
| Paterson Police Department | Partial | 160K | Third largest city; partial encryption |
| Elizabeth Police Department | Partial | 140K | Some tactical channels encrypted |
Regional Analysis
North Jersey / NYC Metro
The densely populated NYC suburban counties—Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Union—are almost entirely encrypted. Newark just exited DOJ oversight after a consent decree; Jersey City had two fatal shootings in six weeks—all under encryption.
- Newark PD: Fully encrypted; Jan 2026 fatal shooting
- Jersey City PD: Two fatal shootings Sep/Oct 2025 under encryption
- Bergen County: BC-ALERT encrypted tactical system since 2023
- Essex County: Newark, Orange, Irvington all migrated to encrypted NJICS
- Union County: Plainfield, Rahway fully encrypted
Central Jersey
Middlesex, Mercer, and Somerset counties saw significant encryption expansion in our 2026 update. Township police departments across the region have quietly gone encrypted on county P25 systems.
- Trenton: 15 talkgroups encrypted; DOJ found civil rights violations Nov 2024
- New Brunswick: Encrypted (Deborah Terrell shot Aug 2025; protesters shut down Rt 18)
- Middlesex County: Highland Park, Metuchen, Middlesex Borough encrypted
In August 2025, New Brunswick police shot 68-year-old Deborah Terrell during a mental health call. Over 100 protesters shut down Route 18; body camera footage released only after sustained pressure.
Monmouth County: No Compromise
Sheriff Shaun Golden implements 100% encryption on ALL police channels—dispatch, tactical, everything. Unlike Ocean County's Sheriff Mastronardy who kept dispatch open, Golden offers no compromise. Nobody outside the organization can monitor any communications.
- Asbury Park, Long Branch, Freehold: All encrypted
- Red Bank, Holmdel, Tinton Falls: All encrypted
- Ocean Township, Hazlet, Manalapan: All encrypted
- Every municipal PD on county system: Encrypted
Monmouth proves that encryption is a policy choice, not a technical requirement. Two neighboring counties—same technology, opposite decisions. Golden chose total darkness.
Shore Counties
Ocean County exemplifies New Jersey's encryption problem. Most municipal departments—Lacey, Barnegat, Jackson, Stafford, and others—have encrypted all channels despite Sheriff Mastronardy's recommendation to keep dispatch open.
- Lacey Township: Complete informational blackout
- Ocean County Prosecutor: 6 encrypted talkgroups
- Barnegat, Jackson, Stafford, Beach Haven: Fully encrypted
- Ocean Township (Waretown): Dispatch and tactical encrypted
- Toms River Fire: Controversially encrypted
- Lavallette: Prosecutor takeover, filming arrests, family dynasty
The Sheriff's Office maintains open dispatch—proving transparency is a choice, not a technical limitation.
Lavallette: Encryption After Crisis
The Ocean County Prosecutor took over Lavallette PD for 15 months (December 2021 – March 2023) after an audit exposed catastrophic failures: officers hired without background checks, no key access to the elementary school for active shooter response, radios so broken cops used personal cell phones, and evidence room violations.
The department is controlled by the LaCicero family—Mayor Walter LaCicero's sons serve as Police Chief (Christian) and Sergeant (Adam). Multiple residents have been arrested for filming public meetings, leading to a 2025 federal civil rights lawsuit. Sgt. Justin Lamb, also named in the suit, was previously arrested for domestic violence yet now serves as Toms River Council President.
Today, Lavallette is fully encrypted. The department that needed external oversight to function now operates without any public visibility into its communications. Read the full case study →
South Jersey / Philadelphia Metro
Camden County is fully encrypted. Cumberland County (Vineland, Millville) has migrated to NJICS with encryption. Even rural South Jersey is trending toward encryption as departments join the statewide system.
- Camden County: Fully encrypted; Nov 2024 fatal shooting in Haddon Twp
- Cumberland County: Vineland PD encrypted on NJICS (TG 3601)
- Gloucester County: Partial encryption
- Burlington County: Mixed, trending encrypted
Atlantic County: The Shore Goes Dark
Atlantic County has migrated most agencies to the Harris P25 system with AES-256 encryption. The casino district, boardwalk, and surrounding shore communities are almost entirely unmonitorable.
- Atlantic City Police: All operations encrypted (one channel may remain clear)
- Egg Harbor City & Township: Both fully encrypted
- Brigantine, Margate, Ventnor: Shore communities encrypted
- Pleasantville, Northfield, Linwood: All encrypted
- Ocean City, Longport, Hammonton: All encrypted
- Atlantic County Police: All operations (except Sheriff) encrypted
When the next boardwalk incident, casino emergency, or shore-town crisis occurs, residents and journalists will learn about it from official statements—not real-time information.
March 2026 Discoveries
Our systematic scan of the RadioReference API revealed 45 previously undocumented encrypted agencies in New Jersey—the highest of any state in this update. Most are township police departments that quietly enabled encryption on existing systems.
Notable Discoveries
Many of these agencies serve communities that likely had no public discussion about encryption. The centralized NJICS system makes this "quiet encryption" possible.
What Happens When NJ Goes Dark
Encryption isn't theoretical—it has real consequences for how communities learn about police activity. Here's what residents experienced under encrypted systems:
New Brunswick: Deborah Terrell (Aug 2025)
At 7:38 AM on August 8, Deborah Terrell—a 68-year-old woman battling schizophrenia who had recently undergone a medication change—was shot twice by police at the John P. Fricano Towers senior building. Officers had been called about a disturbance; she opened her door holding a knife. One officer deployed pepper spray, another a Taser. Then gunfire.
Neighbors in the building had no real-time awareness. Over 100 protesters later shut down Route 18. Activists rallied outside the AG's office in Trenton demanding video. The AG released body camera footage on September 3—nearly a month later—only after sustained public pressure. Questions remain about why mental health specialists weren't called under NJ's "ARRIVE Together" program. Under encryption, no scanner listeners could document the response timeline or verify the official account.
Jersey City: Two Fatal Shootings (Sep & Oct 2025)
Steven Sanchez, 26, was shot and killed by Sgt. Ricardo Reyes on September 5, 2025. Six weeks later, Teshawn Rogers, 27, was killed in an exchange of gunfire with the Street Crimes Unit on October 21, 2025. Both incidents—residents learned through AG press releases.
Newark: Fatal Shooting (Jan 2026)
Wali Bey, 42, was killed by Newark police on January 19, 2026. The AG's Office is investigating. Newark—New Jersey's largest city with 310,000 residents—has been fully encrypted since 2021, eliminating any independent record of police activity.
Lacey Township: Armed Bank Robbery (Mar 2026)
A gunman robbed TD Bank at 2:30 PM on a Monday. Schools went on SECURE lockdown. Parents had no idea why until hours later. The public learned only that an "active investigation" was underway—not that an armed suspect had fled into their community. Read the full case study →
Lacey Township: Fatal Police Shooting (Mar 2026)
A woman was shot and killed by police during a 911 response at 2:44 AM. The Attorney General is investigating. Residents learned about the fatal shooting in their community through an AG press release—not real-time information.
Orange: NJSP Pursuit & Shooting (Nov 2025)
Six state troopers discharged firearms during a pursuit that ended in Orange Township. Mark Boyd, 45, was shot after fleeing from the Meadowlands area. The pursuit crossed multiple jurisdictions—all encrypted—with no public awareness until the AG announcement.
The pattern is clear: Under encryption, New Jersey residents learn about police shootings, armed suspects, and critical incidents through press releases and AG announcements— often hours or days later. The independent, real-time record that scanners once provided is gone.
What Fills the Void: Dysfunction and Misinformation
When police encrypt their communications, the public's need for information doesn't disappear—it gets redirected to less reliable sources. Ocean County demonstrates what happens when encryption meets departmental dysfunction: sketchy Facebook pages fill the void, and troubled departments operate without oversight.
Jackson Township: $2 Million in Settlements, Zero Accountability
Jackson Township PD has been fully encrypted since at least 2006. In that darkness, dysfunction festered. In January 2026, the township paid Police Chief Matthew Kunz approximately $2 million to settle claims under the Conscientious Employee Protection Act—including $1.4 million tied to alleged retaliation and discrimination.
That's not all: a federal civil rights lawsuit alleges an improper relationship between Mayor Kuhn and a police union leader. A whistleblower lawsuit claims officers were issued expired bulletproof vests. The township quietly paid $150,000 to settle an excessive force claim. At least eight lawsuits allege excessive force by Jackson officers.
All of this happened while Jackson PD's communications were fully encrypted—meaning the public had no independent way to monitor police activity or verify official accounts.
Jersey Coast Emergency News: When Misinformation Fills the Gap
With police scanners silent, Ocean County residents turned to Facebook pages like Jersey Coast Emergency News (JCEN)—run by Chris Lyle—for breaking news. The page has over 400,000 followers seeking the emergency information police encryption denied them.
The problem? In February 2026, Lyle was charged with criminal trespassing after driving 45 miles to confront a critic at his home, resulting in a physical fight. He was previously arrested for harassment at a Manchester Wawa after allegedly making violent threats. Police reports indicate he allegedly maintained a "hit list." His firearms were seized.
This is what encryption creates: an information vacuum filled by individuals with no journalistic training, no fact-checking, and—as documented—potential criminal behavior. When official channels go dark, people turn to whatever sources remain.
Lakewood: Corruption Allegations and Civil Rights Lawsuits
Lakewood PD uses selective encryption while handling 100,000+ calls annually. A federal judge recently urged the department to settle a lawsuit against detectives for alleged illegal search and seizure and NJ Civil Rights Act violations. One detective involved had prior lawsuits with body camera footage showing constitutional violations.
An officer was removed for being "not only untruthful but also deceitful." Allegations surfaced that the department provided encrypted police radios and official ID to a local news operator to access emergency scenes—an active internal affairs investigation is underway.
The common thread: departments with serious accountability problems are the ones most likely to embrace encryption. When they can control the information, misconduct stays hidden.
The pattern repeats across Ocean County: Encrypted police departments accumulate lawsuits, settlements, and allegations of misconduct—while residents are left relying on Facebook pages run by individuals facing their own criminal charges. This isn't transparency; it's chaos.
New Jersey's Broader Transparency Crisis
Police encryption is just one front in New Jersey's war on transparency. The same state that quietly encrypted 45 police departments has also dismantled public records laws and kept police disciplinary records secret.
OPRA Gutted (2024)
The Open Public Records Act was overhauled in 2024. Critics say the changes make it harder for the public to obtain government records. Agencies can now sue residents for "harassing" requests, and fee recovery for successful lawsuits was eliminated.
Police Discipline Remains Secret
Unlike many states, New Jersey keeps police disciplinary records sealed. Legislation to open them has stalled repeatedly. When 543 officers received major discipline in 2024 alone, the public had no access to details without AG disclosure.
DOJ Oversight Ending
Newark PD, under federal consent decree since 2016 for widespread misconduct, is set to exit oversight. The department is now fully encrypted—meaning the independent oversight that once held Newark accountable is being replaced by... nothing.
Trenton: DOJ Finds Civil Rights Violations
In October 2023, DOJ opened a pattern-or-practice investigation into Trenton PD. In November 2024, they announced findings: Trenton PD violates the Fourth Amendment through unlawful excessive force, unreasonable pepper spray use on people posing no threat, and unconstitutional stops and arrests without probable cause. Officers rapidly escalate encounters without giving people a chance to comply.
Trenton has operated encrypted radio communications since approximately 2020—first NXDN, now NJICS with 15 encrypted talkgroups. The department under federal investigation for civil rights violations has been operating without public radio oversight for years. The city is now negotiating reforms, but the independent record that might have documented these patterns earlier? It doesn't exist.
Local advocacy matters: Ocean County Scanner News has documented encryption decisions since 2013 and successfully worked with Sheriff Mastronardy to keep Ocean County Sheriff dispatch open. Their model—demand compromise, document decisions, hold officials accountable—is replicable statewide.
Protecting What Remains
While major New Jersey cities have gone dark, residents can still take action:
Monitor Township Meetings
Many encryption decisions happen at the township level with little public notice. Attend council meetings when radio or public safety topics appear on the agenda.
Request OPRA Records
New Jersey's Open Public Records Act (OPRA) can reveal encryption decisions, costs, and justifications. File requests for radio system contracts and encryption policies.
Support Fire Transparency
Most NJ fire departments remain open. Support keeping them that way—the Toms River fire encryption controversy shows what happens when fire goes dark.
Connect with Journalists
NJ news outlets have covered encryption impacts. Share your stories and concerns with local reporters who may investigate further.