2 More Northern Virginia Law Enforcement Agencies Go Radio Silent

City of Fairfax Police and Loudoun County law enforcement have encrypted their radio communications as of Monday morning.

In a release, the City of Fairfax Police Department said, “Encryption helps protect sensitive information that is routinely communicated by radio, such as names, home addresses, dates of birth, medical information, details involving victims, and individuals experiencing a crisis. Additionally, encryption helps protect the safety of community members and officers by reducing the potential for real-time monitoring and redistribution of sensitive police communications through scanner applications and online streaming services to individuals seeking to misuse the information.”

All law enforcement bodies in Loudoun County will be encrypted when the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and Leesburg Police Department encrypt their radio frequencies on Monday, according to a report by Loudoun Now. Police in Purcellville and Middleburg use LCSO frequencies.

The outlet reports that Leesburg Police told them, “The Leesburg Police Department is transitioning to encrypted radio communications to better protect sensitive law enforcement information, safeguard the privacy of victims, witnesses, and community members, and enhance officer safety. Modern police radio traffic often includes personally identifiable information, medical details, criminal justice information, and tactical communications that should not be publicly broadcast in real time. Encryption helps ensure this information remains secure while allowing officers to communicate effectively during emergencies.”

The agencies had not issued public statements as of Monday morning.

The City of Fairfax noted that the change “aligns with similar efforts by law enforcement agencies throughout the National Capital Region.”

Civil rights and press freedom groups have criticized the ongoing wave of police radio encryptions, which has been underway for the past decade. In 2024, Justin Sasso, CEO of the Colorado Broadcasters Association told Truthout that broadcasters have been using police radio information responsibly for years. “There are no examples of broadcaster access resulting in harm to an officer or victim. However, since broadcast journalists and newsrooms have been cut off from law enforcement radios there are multiple incidents of communities not learning about active shooters, wildfires and matters of public safety in a timely manner.”

The ACLU of Nebraska in 2023 said, “[R]adio traffic is an important vehicle for understanding what police are doing and where issues exist across our neighborhoods. That’s important for community safety and accountability. … More transparency means better odds of policing that respects our rights.”