In a move with other Valley Communications agencies, the Federal Way Police Department plans to encrypt its radio communications beginning in the first quarter of 2026.

The department, following best nationwide policing practices, will only allow first responders to listen to radio communications. Radio scanners will no longer pick up first responder communications.

FWPD Cmdr. Kyle Buchanan said the primary reason for radio encryption is to enhance the safety of community members and first responders. Buchanan said another factor is to protect the public’s sensitive and health information from being shared with a wide audience.

Regarding safety, Buchanan said there have been situations in the past, nationwide and locally, where suspects have used scanners to evade arrest or disrupt police operations in real-time. Buchanan said encrypting radio communications preserves operational integrity and improves the safety of officers and the communities they serve.

“Years ago, as a K9 handler, I conducted a K9 track for a suspect,” Buchanan said. “When we found him hiding, he had his cellphone open and was listening to our radio transmissions on a scanner app.”

Buchanan said protecting personal information with the rise of co-responder models is also a factor. The co-responder response model is where mental health professionals partner with officers to respond to behavioral health crises. Buchanan said that during these interactions, a growing amount of private health and personal data is shared over the airwaves.

“These communications often include names and identifying details of individuals in crisis, information about mental health diagnoses or concerns, drug use history or current substance-related behaviors, and safety or risk assessments conducted in real-time,” Buchanan said. “Without encryption, this data can be intercepted by scanners or online rebroadcasts, potentially violating privacy laws and exposing vulnerable individuals to stigma or harm. As co-response teams become more common and integrated into daily police operations, encryption is essential for safeguarding the integrity and confidentiality of these sensitive interactions.”

Buchanan said this switch also stems from an agreement among all the agencies dispatched by Valley Communications, which agreed to encrypt their radio transmissions to protect officers and the community. In the near future, nearly all agencies in King County will be encrypted, and Snohomish County announced a few months ago that it is encrypting its radios.

Regarding citizens who still want to be informed, Buchanan said that more information will be made available to the public as the encryption is implemented. Citizens can stay informed of the department’s day-to-day activities through its social media pages, reading the Federal Way Mirror’s weekly police blotter and reviewing the FWPD’s web-based crime mapping. Additionally, Buchanan said he encourages citizens to interact with officers in public.

“FWPD attends a number of community events where officers often interact with the public,” Buchanan said. “We encourage the public to speak with officers at these events or stop us and say hello and strike up a conversation when we are out in the community.”

Regarding the ability to still listen to radio communications, now that scanners are no longer accessible, Buchanan said that communications will only be available through a public records request. For citizens who feel that the move to encrypt radio communications breaks public trust, Buchanan said the department will continue to share information important to the public on its social media sites, through news releases and at community engagement events. He said the department understands the importance of ensuring the community will remain engaged and informed.