How Encryption Is Denying the Public Real-Time Information
January 2026 Update
Last week, I wrote about a quiet but growing shift in policing. Departments across the country, including many in New Jersey, are encrypting their radio communications. When that happens, the public, journalists, and ordinary residents with scanners lose access to real-time police dispatch, emergency traffic, and incident response.
I did not expect the issue to escalate this quickly.
In the past week alone, two high-profile incidents have underscored the consequences of encrypted police and federal radio systems. With no live audio available, the public was left blind during moments where transparency mattered most.
Why This Matters Right Now
On January 7, 2026, Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and mother of three, was shot and killed in Minneapolis during what ICE described as a targeted enforcement operation.
Eyewitness videos show conflicting commands given to Good while she was in her vehicle. As she attempted to drive away, an ICE agent fired multiple rounds. With ICE radio traffic fully encrypted, there was no real-time audio for journalists or the public to hear commands, context, or escalation.
One day later, on January 8, two people were shot and injured by Border Patrol agents during a vehicle stop in Portland. DHS stated the shooting occurred in self-defense after an attempted ramming. Local officials immediately demanded answers. Again, no live radio traffic was publicly accessible.
In both cases, the same pattern emerged:
- No live scanner audio for journalists, protesters, or the public
- Information delayed for hours or days through official statements or body camera releases
- Conflicting narratives spreading rapidly on social media
- Protests escalating in part due to the lack of immediate, verifiable information
When radios go dark, rumors fill the void.
The Core Issue
Encryption Is No Longer Limited to Tactical Channels
Encryption was once reserved for specialized or sensitive operations. That line has blurred.
New Jersey’s statewide system, New Jersey Interoperable Communications System, has supported encryption for years. Increasingly, local agencies are moving to full encryption on both dispatch and tactical channels. The same approach is now standard for federal agencies such as ICE and Border Patrol.
The official justifications are familiar and, in many cases, legitimate:
- Preventing ambushes or interference
- Protecting victim and witness information
- Preventing criminals from monitoring police activity
No reasonable person wants officers placed in danger.
But the trade-off is significant. Real-time public oversight has effectively disappeared.
What We’ve Lost
During protests, shootings, pursuits, or use-of-force incidents, live radio traffic once served as the earliest source of raw information. Reporters, watchdog groups, and residents could hear events unfold as they happened.
Now, the public experience looks very different:
- Carefully worded statements released hours later
- Partial video clips without context
- Delayed body camera footage
- Online speculation filling the gap
Regardless of where someone stands on immigration enforcement, policing, or civil rights, the outcome is the same. Everyone is denied immediate, unfiltered information during critical moments.
A Call for Balance
Transparency Does Not Require Total Blackout
Encryption does not have to be all or nothing.
Departments and agencies could adopt balanced policies that preserve safety while restoring public trust:
- Keep major incident channels open during protests, shootings, and pursuits
- Provide real-time public summaries instead of delayed press releases
- Require body camera and dash camera releases within 24 to 48 hours in high-profile cases
- Publish clear, transparent policies explaining when and why encryption is used
This is not about undermining law enforcement. It is about accountability, clarity, and preventing misinformation from spiraling during moments of crisis.
The Minneapolis and Portland incidents demonstrate what happens when radios go silent. Confusion increases. Trust erodes. Tensions escalate.
Final Thought
We deserve better than waiting days for curated narratives after lives are lost or people are injured.
If transparency matters to you, regardless of political views, this conversation needs to happen now. Contact your local police department, state lawmakers, or the New Jersey Attorney General’s office. Ask for policies that balance officer safety with public access.
Before the next incident happens, not after.
Read the original article written before these events:
https://exitdesk.wordpress.com/2025/12/27/when-police-radios-go-dark-why-encryption-matters-to-the-public/
What do you think. Should major incident channels remain open to the public. Share your take in the comments.
