Washington State's 2026 Encryption Wave
PSERN's regional radio infrastructure made encryption a cheap configuration switch rather than a capital project. Seattle, Federal Way, and Bothell are going dark in 2026—and more agencies are expected to follow.
Regional Overview
What is PSERN?
PSERN is a $273 million regional infrastructure upgrade, funded by a voter-approved levy, that replaced aging radio systems across King County with modern P25 digital capabilities for police, fire, and EMS agencies throughout the region.
How infrastructure enables encryption
PSERN is not an encryption mandate—it's a platform. But on a modern P25 system, enabling encryption is a configuration change, not a capital expenditure. Once agencies joined PSERN, the main barrier to encryption disappeared.
The same dynamic played out in New Jersey with NJICS and Minnesota with ARMER: regional radio upgrades that turned encryption into an easy administrative decision, producing rapid and coordinated adoption.
PSERN is flipping agency by agency—stack up while Seattle dispatch is still open
Federal Way and Bothell are fully dark, Seattle and Seattle Fire are going partial, and the rest of Puget Sound is right behind them. The regional pattern means now is the time to get gear that covers what's still open: SPD dispatch, federal, SEA aviation, amateur, and NOAA weather.
Agency-by-Agency Status
| Agency | Status | Timeline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Police | Partial | Q2 2026 | Dispatch open, tactical encrypted |
| Seattle Fire | Partial | Q2 2026 | Dispatch open, tactical encrypted (HIPAA) |
| Federal Way Police | Full | Q1 2026 | All communications encrypted |
| Bothell Police | Full | Early 2026 | Enhanced encryption on PSERN |
| Bothell Fire | Full | Early 2026 | Enhanced encryption on PSERN |
Seattle's Middle-Ground Approach
Seattle chose partial encryption in the 2026 wave. Both Seattle Police and Seattle Fire are encrypting tactical channels while keeping dispatch open to the public.
What Stays Open
- Dispatch channels
- When and where incidents occur
- General response status
- Public-facing information
What Gets Encrypted
- Tactical communications
- Officer-to-officer channels
- Sensitive operational details
- Personal/health information (Fire)
The approach preserves some public access while addressing agency concerns about tactical security. It is similar to models used in Philadelphia and parts of Ohio and could work as a compromise template elsewhere.
"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
Federal Way's Full Encryption
Federal Way went the other direction from Seattle, implementing full encryption in Q1 2026. Only first responders can now access radio communications. Traditional scanners receive nothing from Federal Way police.
No public access
Federal Way has not announced any delayed feed, press access program, or other public alternative to scanner access. This represents the more restrictive end of the encryption spectrum.
Bothell Fire & Police
Bothell announced that both its Fire and Police departments would implement enhanced encryption in early 2026, citing protection of sensitive personal and health information—the same rationale Seattle used. Which channels remain open has not been publicly clarified.
Seattle Fire: The HIPAA Rationale
Seattle Fire's encryption announcement led with HIPAA and patient privacy. Medical calls do involve protected health information transmitted over radio.
What the HIPAA argument holds and where it breaks
- Medical calls do involve protected health information—a legitimate concern
- EMS agencies have managed privacy without full encryption for decades, using call abbreviations and not broadcasting patient names
- Most fire departments nationally remain unencrypted, including in states with the same HIPAA obligations
- Encrypting only tactical channels while keeping dispatch open addresses the medical privacy issue without removing all public access
Seattle Fire's approach—encrypting tactical channels while keeping dispatch open—handles the HIPAA concern without going dark entirely.
The Regional Domino Effect
Washington's 2026 wave illustrates how regional infrastructure drives regional encryption. Once PSERN was in place, the question inside departments shifted from "Can we encrypt?" to "Why haven't we?"
Infrastructure upgrade
PSERN provides modern P25 capabilities to King County agencies
Early adopters
Some agencies enable encryption, citing security concerns
Regional pressure
"Why are we the only ones still open?" becomes the question
Coordinated wave
Multiple agencies announce encryption in similar timeframes
This pattern has played out in New Jersey (NJICS), Minnesota (ARMER), and California's East Bay. Opposing encryption at the individual agency level is ineffective once a regional system has standardized on it—the fight has to happen at the regional governance level before the infrastructure is in place.
What makes Washington different
Three things set Washington's 2026 wave apart from other regional encryption rollouts:
Seattle's partial model
The state's largest city is keeping dispatch accessible—a template for compromise that advocates elsewhere can point to.
Fire departments encrypting
Seattle Fire and Bothell Fire are encrypting tactical channels. In most regional rollouts, fire stays open. The HIPAA argument is moving that line.
Full encryption within the same region
Federal Way went fully dark while Seattle went partial. Different decisions in adjacent agencies show that no single outcome is inevitable.
What you can do
Seattle area residents
- Watch Seattle's partial implementation closely—and document gaps in dispatch access if they emerge
- Attend city council meetings when PSERN-related items appear on agendas
- Support local journalists who cover public safety
- File Washington Public Records Act requests for implementation documentation
Other Puget Sound communities
- Check whether your city has announced PSERN encryption plans
- Push for Seattle's partial model rather than full encryption
- Contact elected officials before any decision is finalized
- Build coalitions with journalists, civil liberties organizations, and neighborhood groups
Washington statewide
- Track other regional radio systems that could follow the PSERN pattern
- Advocate for state legislation requiring press access provisions before encryption
- Colorado's HB21-1250 is the working model for what state-level protection looks like
- Connect with the Washington Coalition for Open Government and state journalism organizations
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PSERN and how does it enable encryption?
PSERN (Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network) is a new digital radio system serving King County and surrounding areas. While designed to improve emergency communication, its modern infrastructure makes encryption technically simple for participating agencies.
Is Seattle police radio encrypted?
Seattle Police is implementing partial encryption in Q2 2026. Tactical channels will be encrypted while dispatch channels remain open to the public. This is a middle-ground approach compared to full encryption.
Is Seattle Fire encrypted?
Seattle Fire Department is encrypting tactical communications in Q2 2026, citing HIPAA and patient privacy concerns. Dispatch channels will remain open, similar to Seattle Police's approach.
Is Federal Way police encrypted?
Yes. Federal Way Police Department encrypted all radio communications in Q1 2026. Unlike Seattle's partial approach, Federal Way implemented full encryption with only first responders able to access radio traffic.
Why are so many Washington agencies encrypting in 2026?
The PSERN regional system rollout made encryption technically easy and cost-effective. Once the infrastructure was in place, agencies could enable encryption without major new investments, leading to coordinated regional adoption.
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