Police Encryption Cost Calculator
Encryption isn't just about blocking scanners—it's a massive financial commitment. Calculate what your city will really pay.
The ranges below come from publicly reported encryption-project costs (see the real-world examples further down) blended with typical municipal radio-system pricing by city size. Enter your numbers for a planning-level five-year estimate, then compare it against what else that budget could fund.
Calculate Your City's Cost
Real-World Encryption Costs
These are actual costs reported by major US cities:
New York City
2024Largest police encryption project in US history
Philadelphia
2022Part of broader radio system upgrade
Denver
2022New digital trunked system
San Diego
2021Regional interoperability system
Phoenix
2021Citywide P25 encryption
Hidden Costs of Encryption
Beyond the dollar figures, encryption carries costs that don't appear in city budgets:
Interoperability
Coordinating with neighboring agencies that remain open or use different encryption keys
Media Relations
Delayed information to press leads to speculation and misinformation during crises
Public Trust
Measurable decline in public confidence when oversight is reduced
Journalist Access
News organizations lose ability to verify police narratives in real-time
Emergency Response
Mutual aid complications when systems don't align
Legal Exposure
FOIA litigation costs when public demands access
Cost-Effective Transparency Alternatives
Delayed Broadcast Model
2-5 minute delays cost 90% less than full encryption while addressing tactical concerns.
$50,000 - $200,000Tactical Channel Only
Encrypt only sensitive operations while keeping dispatch channels open to the public.
$100,000 - $500,000Media Access Programs
Provide credentialed journalists access to encrypted feeds with appropriate delays.
$25,000 - $75,000Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate are these cost estimates?
The ranges are built from real reported figures — the $390 million NYPD project, Philadelphia's $80 million upgrade, and the other examples below — interpolated across city-size tiers. Your city's actual cost depends on how much of the existing radio system already needs replacing, what vendor contract is in place, and local labor rates, so treat the output as a planning-level estimate, not a quote.
Why do costs vary so much by city size?
Core infrastructure, the trunked radio system itself, is close to a fixed cost regardless of headcount: a system built for 50,000 residents and one built for 250,000 need similar base equipment, just sized differently. Per-officer costs like handsets and training scale directly with the number of people using the system, which is why larger departments see the total climb faster than the per-person cost.
What isn't included in these numbers?
This calculator covers direct city-budget line items: infrastructure, equipment, training, and annual maintenance. It doesn't put a dollar figure on the costs in the Hidden Costs section below, delayed news coverage, reduced public trust, interoperability friction with agencies that stay unencrypted, and the legal costs of fighting public-records requests after the fact.
Are there cheaper alternatives to full encryption?
Yes. A delayed-broadcast feed (typically 2-5 minutes) or encrypting only tactical channels while leaving routine dispatch open both address the officer-safety concerns departments usually cite, at a fraction of full encryption's cost. See the Cost-Effective Transparency Alternatives section below for rough pricing on each.
Take Action for Transparency
Your voice matters. Here are concrete ways to advocate for open police communications in your community.
Contact Your Representatives
Use our templates to email your local officials about police radio encryption policies.
Get StartedRead Case Studies
See how encryption has affected real communities - from Highland Park to Chicago.
View CasesSpread Awareness
Share evidence about police radio encryption with your network and community.
Public Testimony
Learn how to speak effectively at city council and public safety meetings.
Prepare to Speak