Police Radio Encryption in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has an encryption rate of 7%. Out of 218 tracked public safety agencies, 4 are fully encrypted, 22 are partially encrypted, and 192 broadcast in the clear.
Agencies by Type
Encrypted & Partially Encrypted Agencies in Massachusetts
- Federal (Worcester County) — Encrypted
- Huntington (Hampshire County) — Encrypted
- Middlesex County Sheriff (Middlesex County) — Encrypted
- Plainfield (Hampshire County) — Encrypted
- Amherst (Hampshire County) — Partial
- Belchertown (Hampshire County) — Partial
- Boston and Essex County (Suffolk County) — Partial
- Business Misc. (Worcester County) — Partial
- Commonwealth Of Massachusetts Interoperable Radio System (CoMIRS) (Worcester County) — Partial
- Dartmouth (Bristol County) — Partial
- Federal (Essex County) — Partial
- Federal (Hampden County) — Partial
- Federal (Suffolk County) — Partial
- Freetown (Bristol County) — Partial
- Joint Base Ops - MMR (Barnstable County) — Partial
- Law Ops (Barnstable County) — Partial
- Mansfield (Bristol County) — Partial
- Massachusetts Federal (Barnstable County) — Partial
- Massachusetts Railroads (Barnstable County) — Partial
- Nantucket Municipal (Nantucket County) — Partial
- New Bedford (Bristol County) — Partial
- North Attleboro (Bristol County) — Partial
- Norton (Bristol County) — Partial
- Recreation (Worcester County) — Partial
- Seekonk (Bristol County) — Partial
- WestComm Regional (Hampshire County) — Partial
County Breakdown
14 counties tracked across Massachusetts. 9 have at least one encrypted or partially encrypted agency.
View all 14 counties
| County | Agencies | Encrypted | Partial | Clear | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hampshire County | 13 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 27% |
| Nantucket County | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 25% |
| Worcester County | 19 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 13% |
| Bristol County | 27 | 0 | 7 | 20 | 13% |
| Middlesex County | 13 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 8% |
| Essex County | 9 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 6% |
| Hampden County | 9 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 6% |
| Barnstable County | 46 | 0 | 4 | 42 | 4% |
| Suffolk County | 32 | 0 | 2 | 30 | 3% |
| Norfolk County | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0% |
| Plymouth County | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0% |
| Berkshire County | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0% |
| Franklin County | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0% |
| Dukes County | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
What This Means for Massachusetts Residents
Massachusetts has a relatively low encryption rate of 7%. The majority of public safety agencies (192 out of 218) still broadcast in the clear, meaning scanner listeners and journalists retain access to most emergency radio traffic.
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 Massachusetts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is police radio encrypted in Massachusetts?
In Massachusetts, 4 out of 218 tracked public safety agencies use fully encrypted radio, and 22 use partial encryption. The overall encryption rate is 7%. Use the search tool on the homepage to check specific cities and counties.
Can I listen to police scanners in Massachusetts?
Yes — 192 agencies in Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts data updated?
Data for Massachusetts 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 218 agencies in Massachusetts →
States with Similar Encryption Rates
Wyoming (7%) · Missouri (7%) · Georgia (7%) · Oregon (8%) · Washington (8%)
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