Seattle's Partial Encryption: The "Best of Both Worlds" Model
Dispatch stays open. Tactical goes encrypted. Can this middle ground work for your city?
Key Facts
The Seattle Approach: Split Encryption
Unlike cities that have fully encrypted all police communications, Seattle has chosen a middle path. The Seattle Police Department's approach distinguishes between two types of radio traffic:
What Stays Open
- Dispatch channels — Where officers are sent and why
- Incident information — What's happening and where
- General patrol communications — Routine traffic
The public can still hear when and where incidents are occurring in real time.
What Gets Encrypted
- Tactical channels — SWAT operations, ongoing sensitive situations
- Personal information — Names, addresses, dates of birth
- Undercover operations — Situations where exposure risks safety
Sensitive information stays private while general awareness remains public.
How Seattle Got Here
Seattle's partial encryption isn't a sudden change—it's the formalization of practices that began during the 2020 protests and evolved with a major regional infrastructure upgrade.
SPD begins selectively encrypting tactical channels during protests and high-profile incidents
Informal practice continues with tactical encryption used situationally
SPD announces formal partial encryption policy as part of PSERN migration
Full implementation of partial encryption under new PSERN system
The PSERN Connection
Seattle's encryption changes are enabled by the Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network (PSERN)—a major regional infrastructure upgrade replacing the aging King County radio system.
What is PSERN?
The Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network is a $273 million upgrade to the emergency communications infrastructure across King County. The new digital system provides:
- Better coverage in buildings and tunnels
- Improved interoperability between agencies
- Modern encryption capabilities
- More reliable communications during emergencies
The new system gives agencies the ability to encrypt—but each agency chooses whether and how to use that capability.
Regional Coordination
Multiple King County agencies are implementing encryption policies as they migrate to PSERN. SPD's approach is being watched as a potential model:
- Seattle Fire Department — Also encrypting tactical channels, keeping dispatch open
- Bothell Fire & Police — Similar partial encryption approach
- Other agencies — Varying approaches across the county
SPD's Stated Rationale
The Seattle Police Department has been more transparent than many agencies about their reasoning. Their stated goals:
Officer Safety
Preventing suspects from monitoring tactical operations in real-time
Victim Privacy
Protecting personal information of crime victims from public broadcast
Compliance
Meeting state and federal requirements for protecting certain data
Public Awareness
Maintaining dispatch transparency so the public knows what's happening
"SPD's dispatch channels, which communicate when and where incidents are occurring, will remain open for the public to hear via radio scanners."— Seattle Police Department announcement, June 2025
Pros and Cons of the Seattle Model
Is partial encryption a genuine compromise—or a stepping stone to full encryption? The answer may depend on implementation and oversight.
Potential Benefits
- Public awareness preserved — Dispatch channels keep community informed of incidents
- Journalism functional — Media can still monitor breaking news and arrive at scenes
- Legitimate privacy concerns addressed — Victim information protected
- Incremental vs. total — Better than full encryption blackout
- Transparency about the policy — Clear public communication about what's encrypted
Concerns & Risks
- Slippery slope — Could lead to gradual expansion of "tactical" definition
- Accountability gaps — Critical interactions may happen on encrypted channels
- Subjective decisions — Who decides what's "tactical"?
- No oversight mechanism — No independent verification of proper use
- Precedent setting — May normalize encryption as acceptable default
How This Compares to Other Approaches
What to Watch For
Seattle's model will be tested over time. Here's what transparency advocates should monitor:
Definition Creep
Does the definition of "tactical" expand over time to cover more routine communications?
Implementation Consistency
Are the rules applied consistently, or does encryption expand during controversial incidents?
Incident Documentation
When use-of-force incidents occur, is the communication on encrypted or open channels?
Public Reporting
Does SPD provide regular reports on encryption usage and any changes to policy?
Regional Spread
Do other King County agencies adopt similar policies, or move toward full encryption?
Is This a Model for Your City?
If your city is considering encryption, the Seattle model offers a middle ground that may be more achievable than full transparency—but comes with important caveats.
When Partial Encryption Might Work
- Your city is determined to encrypt something—better to limit it than allow full blackout
- You can get clear, written policy defining exactly what "tactical" means
- There's political will for oversight and accountability
- The community accepts it as a genuine compromise, not a first step
When to Push for More
- Your city hasn't yet committed to any encryption—fight for full access first
- There's no oversight mechanism for how "tactical" is defined
- The policy is vague or subject to unilateral expansion
- Recent incidents suggest accountability problems that require full transparency
Explore Other Approaches
Seattle's model is one of several approaches to balancing transparency and encryption. See what's working elsewhere.
Sources
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