Police Radio Encryption in Delaware
Delaware has an encryption rate of 36%. Out of 97 tracked public safety agencies, 17 are fully encrypted, 35 are partially encrypted, and 45 broadcast in the clear.
Agencies by Type
Encrypted & Partially Encrypted Agencies in Delaware
- All (Kent County) — Encrypted
- DOC (Kent County) — Encrypted
- Kent County - State Police (Kent County) — Encrypted
- New Castle County - Elsmere (Kent County) — Encrypted
- New Castle County - Middletown (Kent County) — Encrypted
- New Castle County - New Castle City (Kent County) — Encrypted
- New Castle County - Newark City (Kent County) — Encrypted
- New Castle County - Newport, Town Of (Kent County) — Encrypted
- New Castle County Police (Kent County) — Encrypted
- New Castle County State Police (Kent County) — Encrypted
- State Police Statewide (Kent County) — Encrypted
- Sussex County - Courts (Kent County) — Encrypted
- Sussex County - Fenwick Island (Kent County) — Encrypted
- Sussex County - South Bethany Beach (Kent County) — Encrypted
- Sussex County - State Police (Kent County) — Encrypted
- University of Delaware (New Castle County) — Encrypted
- Winterthur Museum (New Castle County) — Encrypted
- Businesses (New Castle County) — Partial
- Businesses (Sussex County) — Partial
- Delaware State University (Kent County) — Partial
- Department of Corrections (Kent County) — Partial
- Department of Natural Resources (Kent County) — Partial
- Kent County - Camden/ Wyoming (Kent County) — Partial
- Kent County - Clayton (Kent County) — Partial
- Kent County - Courts (Kent County) — Partial
- Kent County - Dover (Kent County) — Partial
- Kent County - Felton (Kent County) — Partial
- Kent County - Frederica (Kent County) — Partial
- Kent County - Harrington (Kent County) — Partial
- Kent County - Smyrna (Kent County) — Partial
- New Castle County - University of Delaware (Kent County) — Partial
- New Castle County - Wilmington City (Kent County) — Partial
- New Castle County Courts (Kent County) — Partial
- New Castle County Miscellaneous (Kent County) — Partial
- Outside Agencies (Kent County) — Partial
- River & Bay Authority (DRBA) (Kent County) — Partial
- Statewide - Miscellaneous (Kent County) — Partial
- Sussex County (Sussex County) — Partial
- Sussex County - Bethany Beach (Kent County) — Partial
- Sussex County - Blades (Kent County) — Partial
- Sussex County - Bridgeville (Kent County) — Partial
- Sussex County - Dagsboro (Kent County) — Partial
- Sussex County - Delmar (Kent County) — Partial
- Sussex County - Dewey Beach (Kent County) — Partial
- Sussex County - Ellendale (Kent County) — Partial
- Sussex County - Fire & EMS (Kent County) — Partial
- Sussex County - Laurel (Kent County) — Partial
- Sussex County - Lewes (Kent County) — Partial
- Sussex County - Millsboro (Kent County) — Partial
- Sussex County - Rehoboth Beach (Kent County) — Partial
- Sussex County - Seaford (Kent County) — Partial
- Sussex County - Selbyville (Kent County) — Partial
County Breakdown
3 counties tracked across Delaware. 3 have at least one encrypted or partially encrypted agency.
View all 3 counties
| County | Agencies | Encrypted | Partial | Clear | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent County | 75 | 15 | 32 | 28 | 41% |
| New Castle County | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 36% |
| Sussex County | 15 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 7% |
What This Means for Delaware Residents
Delaware has a moderate encryption rate of 36%. While many agencies still broadcast in the clear, a growing number have moved to encrypted radio — particularly in urban areas and larger departments. Scanner listeners can still monitor 45 agencies statewide.
Encryption status can change at any time as agencies upgrade equipment or adopt new policies. The RTDNA considers police radio encryption the #1 threat to journalism in America. Use our search tool to check specific cities and counties in Delaware.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is police radio encrypted in Delaware?
In Delaware, 17 out of 97 tracked public safety agencies use fully encrypted radio, and 35 use partial encryption. The overall encryption rate is 36%. Use the search tool on the homepage to check specific cities and counties.
Can I listen to police scanners in Delaware?
Yes — 45 agencies in Delaware still broadcast in the clear and can be monitored with a scanner. Check specific agencies using our search tool for detailed channel information.
How often is Delaware data updated?
Data for Delaware is synchronized weekly from RadioReference.com. Encryption status reflects the latest known radio configurations, though agencies can change their setup without notice. Report incorrect data.
Search all 97 agencies in Delaware →
States with Similar Encryption Rates
North Dakota (22%) · New Hampshire (20%) · Alaska (20%) · Pennsylvania (19%) · Rhode Island (16%)
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