DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – The familiar crackle of a Detroit police scanner may soon sound like static, a buzzing noise – or nothing at all. Across Michigan, including metro Detroit, law enforcement agencies are moving toward encrypted radio communications to comply with federal Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) security rules. The shift isn’t unique to Michigan – departments across the country have been locking down their airwaves as part of a broader nationwide move toward encryption.
What’s driving the change?
The push stems from FBI CJIS Security Policy requirements that say when Criminal Justice Information – such as NCIC (National Crime Information Center) data, criminal histories, or other protected personal information – is transmitted over land mobile radio outside a secure facility, it must be encrypted. In May 2025 guidance, the Michigan State Police told all CJIS user agencies that dissemination of CJI over radio must meet federal encryption standards.
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Michigan law enforcement agencies were flagged during a 2023 FBI audit for failing to comply, and while MSP has allowed a grace period because of the time and money the switch would take, sanctions may begin in October if agencies remain out of compliance. Their rules say, “After October 1, 2026, the MSP’s CJIS audit staff will audit to the requirement and require a written corrective action plan be submitted for findings of non-compliance. Corrective action plans that do not achieve compliance within 30 days of the audit will initiate the MSP CJIS sanctions process, which is a cooperative and progressive process for agencies to report their progress towards compliance.”
What information needs to be protected?
Under the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Security Policy, certain types of sensitive law enforcement data cannot be transmitted over unsecured channels like open police scanners. That includes criminal history records (rap sheets), Social Security numbers, full dates of birth tied to criminal records, driver’s license numbers linked to criminal cases, biometric data such as fingerprints or facial recognition results, and detailed case histories pulled from state or federal databases. In short, if the information comes from a protected criminal justice database – especially anything classified as Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) – it must be encrypted in transit and cannot legally be broadcast over a non-secure scanner frequency.
Not a blanket mandate – but close enough.
Here’s the nuance that often gets lost: the FBI policy does not require every word over the radio to be encrypted. Only traffic that contains FBI CJI must be secured. Departments could, in theory, keep routine dispatch open and shift sensitive information to encrypted channels. But instead, many agencies are choosing full encryption. It’s administratively simpler and guarantees compliance. It also guarantees that public scanner access disappears.
The transparency tradeoff.
Law enforcement leaders say the move protects victims’ privacy and officer safety. Critics – including journalism and First Amendment groups – argue that full encryption removes a long-standing oversight tool. Reporters lose real-time awareness. So do storm spotters, tow operators, volunteer responders, and residents tracking emergencies in their neighborhoods.
In an interview with journalist Dave Bondy, an independent photojournalist named Abe with Metro Detroit News – expressed concerns about the expansion of police scanner encryption. “You won’t be able to listen to what they’re saying anymore,” he said, explaining that his role is to report the news so the public knows what’s happening in their communities. He also noted that police departments already operate a secondary secure channel for sensitive communications.
Abe warned that if primary channels are encrypted, breaking news coverage could be limited to whatever information officials choose to release – or to what citizens can capture on-scene. He said he hopes lawmakers will engage in discussions before widespread encryption policies are implemented.
