Police Encryption in Texas
As America's second-largest state, Texas has a diverse encryption landscape. While state agencies are encrypted, many local departments maintain the Lone Star State's tradition of transparency. Here's what you need to know about scanner access in Texas.
Texas at a Glance
Texas presents a more hopeful picture than California. Despite the Texas Department of Public Safety encrypting statewide operations in 2019, most local agencies have maintained open communications. The state's strong tradition of government transparency and local control has slowed the encryption wave.
Major cities like San Antonio, Fort Worth, and El Paso remain accessible, while Houston and Dallas have adopted partial encryption primarily on tactical channels. The Brazos County case in 2023 raised alarm bells about backdoor encryption decisions, but community pushback has been strong.
Major Texas Agencies
| Agency | Status | Coverage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Police Department | Partial | 2.3M | Tactical channels encrypted; main dispatch open on P25 |
| Dallas Police Department | Partial | 1.3M | Some channels encrypted after 2020; working toward full encryption |
| Irving Police (NTIRN) | Encrypted | 250K | 26 encrypted talkgroups on North Texas Interoperable Radio Network |
| Arlington Police (NTIRN) | Encrypted | 395K | 11 encrypted talkgroups on NTIRN; largest suburb encrypted |
| San Antonio Police Department | Open | 1.5M | Digital P25 but remains unencrypted |
| Austin Police Department | Partial | 1M | Partial encryption on tactical channels; main dispatch open |
| Round Rock Police (GATRRS) | Encrypted | 140K | 11 encrypted talkgroups on Greater Austin Regional System |
| Fort Worth Police Department | Open | 950K | Digital system, still accessible to public |
| Forest Hill Police (NTIRN) | Encrypted | 12K | 14 encrypted talkgroups; small city fully encrypted |
| Burleson Police (NTIRN) | Encrypted | 50K | 8 encrypted talkgroups on NTIRN |
| El Paso Police Department | Open | 680K | Border city maintains open communications |
| Harris County Sheriff | Partial | 4.7M | Largest county in Texas; partial encryption |
| Brazos County | Encrypted | 230K | Fully encrypted in 2023 with no public notice |
| Texas Department of Public Safety | Encrypted | Statewide | State troopers fully encrypted |
| Tarrant County Sheriff | Open | 2.1M | Fort Worth area sheriff remains open |
Regional Analysis
Houston Metro
The nation's fourth-largest city has partial encryption. HPD's main dispatch channels remain on open P25, but tactical operations, SWAT, and specialized units are encrypted. Harris County Sheriff follows a similar pattern.
- HPD: Main dispatch open, tactical encrypted
- Harris County Sheriff: Partial encryption
- Suburban agencies: Mostly open
- Scanner access: Possible with P25 scanner
Dallas-Fort Worth
The DFW metroplex shows divergence: Dallas has moved toward partial encryption while Fort Worth maintains open communications. This contrast within the same metro area highlights local decision-making differences.
- Dallas PD: Partial encryption, trending more
- Fort Worth PD: Open and accessible
- Tarrant County Sheriff: Open
- Suburban agencies: Generally open
San Antonio/Austin
Central Texas maintains strong transparency. San Antonio, the state's second-largest city, operates fully open P25. Austin has some tactical encryption but keeps main dispatch accessible to the public.
- San Antonio PD: Fully open
- Austin PD: Mostly open
- Bexar County Sheriff: Open
- Travis County Sheriff: Partial
West Texas/Border
Rural and border regions remain largely open. El Paso maintains transparency despite security considerations. Smaller agencies lack the resources for encryption upgrades, and interoperability needs keep channels accessible.
- El Paso PD: Open
- Border Patrol: Federal (encrypted)
- Rural sheriffs: Generally open
- Small departments: Mostly analog/open
NTIRN: North Texas Going Dark
24 New Encrypted Agencies Discovered (March 2026)
Our March 2026 database update revealed significant encryption expansion across the North Texas Interoperable Radio Network (NTIRN). What was once a regional system with partial encryption is now substantially encrypted, affecting communities across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Key Agencies Now Encrypted on NTIRN:
- Irving Police - 26 talkgroups (largest discovery)
- Arlington Police - 11 talkgroups (395K population)
- Forest Hill Police - 14 talkgroups
- Burleson Police - 8 talkgroups
The NTIRN encryption wave is particularly concerning because it happened quietly, without the public debate seen in cities like Denver or San Francisco. Community members should attend local council meetings to push for transparency policies.
View all database updates →The Brazos County Warning
Encryption Without Notice (2023)
In 2023, Brazos County (home to Texas A&M University) quietly encrypted all police communications without public notice or community input. This "stealth encryption" set a troubling precedent for Texas.
The decision came in the aftermath of the Uvalde school shooting, where police radio communications revealed the delayed law enforcement response. Rather than addressing accountability, Brazos County chose to eliminate public access entirely.
Lesson: Communities must monitor local government agendas for encryption proposals. By the time many residents learned of Brazos County's decision, it was already implemented.
Protecting Scanner Access in Texas
Texas's tradition of transparency is worth preserving. Here's how you can help:
Monitor City Councils
Watch for radio system upgrades, P25 transitions, or "communication security" agenda items that may include encryption.
Use Open Records
Texas has strong public records laws. Request information about encryption plans, costs, and decision-making processes.
Build Coalitions
Connect with local journalists, neighborhood watch groups, and fire/EMS personnel who rely on scanner access.
Cite Uvalde
The Uvalde tragedy showed why police accountability matters. Scanner access revealed failures that official statements concealed.