Loudoun County Police Issue Statement On Switch To Encrypted Radio Communications

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA –Loudoun County law enforcement bodies have issued a statement on their decision to encrypt radio communications.

The statement was issued jointly by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, Leesburg Police Department, Purcellville Police Department and Middleburg Police Department following the news that the departments would no longer allow public access to their radio channels.

The departments are switching to encrypted radio communications "to better protect sensitive law enforcement information, safeguard the privacy of victims, witnesses, and community members, and enhance officer safety," the statement reads. They say the transition is in process and is expected to be fully implemented this fall.

"Every day, police radio communications include sensitive information about victims, witnesses, community members experiencing a crisis, and individuals under investigation. The transmissions can include names, home addresses, dates of birth, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, medical and mental health information, and other personally identifiable information necessary to respond effectively and safely," the statement reads.

"As this information is provided in real time and can be accessed via scanners, it can be used unscrupulously by those who monitor these transmissions to dox, harass or target anyone whose identifiable information is provided, or potentially allow a citizen to interrupt or interfere with an ongoing incident or investigation. Encryption helps protect both the safety of the community and our first responders. It has already become a standard across the nation with thousands of law enforcement/first responder agencies."

Civil rights and press freedom groups criticize the wave of police radio encryption, 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.”

Opponents of police radio encryption argue that transparency is necessary for police accountability.

The Loudoun County law enforcement bodies say they "remain committed to transparency and keeping our communities informed. The public and members of the news media will continue to receive timely and accurate information through Alert Loudoun, news releases, incident reports, department websites, social media, and other public communications. This transition changes only the method of real-time radio communications and does not change each agency's commitment to openness, accountability, and providing information about police activity."

Fairfax County police also began encrypting their communications on Monday.