Police Radio Encryption

Historically, due to limitations in two-way radio communication technology, public safety radio transmissions could be easily intercepted and listened to by using monitors and scanners available on the consumer market. There has been a nationwide push for public safety radio systems to be upgraded to the “P25 Standard”. This nationwide standard enhances the security and interoperability of two-way radio transmissions between public safety agencies. As part of a multi-year project, the Anne Arundel County radio system has been upgraded to the P25 standard, allowing for the encryption of radio transmissions without impacting interoperable communications with allied agencies.

Encryption of digital police radio network traffic will protect the dignity of victims, witnesses and their families by securing private information. In order to effectively do their jobs, police officers and dispatchers routinely transmit names, social security numbers, dates of birth, addresses, phone numbers, medical or mental health information, the specific reasons for responding to a home or other location, and past history of a location or a person over the radio system. With encryption, this private information will be protected.

Encryption being used on the Anne Arundel County radio system is standardized nationwide technology that protects the privacy and security of public safety digital radio network communications. Voice and data transmissions from a two-way radio are scrambled and can not be intercepted or listened to, except by other two-way radios receiving the transmission that have an electronic “key” that unscrambles the voice and data transmission.

The Land Mobile Radio (LMR) System Capital Project, which started almost a decade ago, now enables the Anne Arundel County Police Department to protect the dignity of victims and their families by keeping your personally identifiable information (PII) and other private and sensitive information secured. At times, police officers and communications dispatchers must share PII such as names, dates of birth, addresses, phone numbers, and medical or mental health conditions and histories over the radio, which makes this information vulnerable. Protected Health Information (PHI) about medical conditions, sexual assaults, domestic abuse, and child exploitation could also be compromised. 

Encrypted radio transmissions prevent the identities and personal details of victims, witnesses, or persons providing information to the police department from being revealed. This also helps protect the community from the increasing prevalence of identity theft. According to the National Council on Identity Theft Protection, simple methods, such as traditional identity theft, and more complex ones like synthetic identity theft, are all increasing. Professionals in the field believe that there is a new victim every 22 seconds. Furthermore, according to The Identity Theft Research Center (ITRC) Annual Data Breach Report, there were a record number of data compromises in the U.S. in 2023 with at least 353 million individuals impacted. Identity theft cases continue to rise. The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Consumer Sentinel Network took in over 5.39 million reports in 2023.

The following is an example of how information could become compromised without the use of encryption:

Officers respond with Fire/EMS personnel to the home of a family to help with a situation involving a teenage child behaving irrationally and intending to harm themselves.

With encryption, we will be protecting your sensitive, private information transmitted over the police radio system. This information may include: 

• Home address
• Child’s name
• Child’s condition
• Child’s date of birth
• Prior medical or mental health information
• Current medical or mental health information needed for EMS personnel.

In addition to securing sensitive personally identifiable information not intended for the public, the decision to encrypt police radio transmissions also stems from a commitment to protecting the integrity of law enforcement operations and ensuring the safety of officers and the public. 

Encryption technology will secure the communication channels used by our officers and dispatchers, preventing unauthorized access and minimizing the risk of sensitive information being released such as police movements, operations and specific investigative details. Encryption allows officers to respond to calls for service safely, efficiently, effectively and to communicate operational tactics without fear of suspects intercepting sensitive information, thus allowing us to better serve the public by bringing safe closure to critical incidents.

Additionally, the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Security Policy requires that criminal justice agencies encrypt criminal justice information, including personal data. This requirement applies to information and data being transmitted via two way radios, among the other forms of storage and transmission.

The Anne Arundel County Police Department is committed to providing the public and the media with timely and accurate information about incidents that pose a risk to public safety or will significantly impact the daily routine of community members. Information will be posted on social media and transmitted to local media outlets and social media publishers. 

Information that will be publicized will include but not limited to the following:

• Traffic crashes involving significant First Responder response or extended investigation.
• Incidents requiring a large police presence
  • Active assailants
  • Barricade situations 
  • Searches for suspects.
• Contact shootings.
• Occurrences due to weather that would impact the travel of community members to and from their homes or work.
• Other incidents deemed to have significant public safety impact

Additionally, press releases containing information on noteworthy crimes, such as homicide, armed robbery, weapon or drug violations, and information on criminal arrests can be found at https://www.aacounty.org/police-department.