Seward Police Department
Kenai, Alaska
How we verified this
As of August 2026 both Seward Police talkgroups RadioReference lists on Alaska Land Mobile Radio (ALMR) are encrypted — "15301 Seward PD 1 — D Enc" and "15302 Seward PD 2 — D Enc" — while Seward EMS ("15026 Seward EMS — D") is in the clear.
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
What This Means
Everything this agency transmits is encrypted, dispatch included. For anyone outside the department — residents, reporters, neighbouring responders — the channel is simply silent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seward Police Department radio encrypted?
Yes — Seward Police Department's radio system runs on P25 AES-256 encryption. Everything this agency transmits is encrypted, dispatch included. For anyone outside the department — residents, reporters, neighbouring responders — the channel is simply silent.
Can I listen to Seward Police Department on a police scanner?
No. Seward Police Department has fully encrypted their radio communications using P25 AES-256. No consumer scanner can decode encrypted transmissions.
Why did Seward Police Department encrypt their radio?
Officer safety and operational security are the reasons agencies give. What rarely comes with that explanation is Kenai County-specific evidence that open communications ever caused a problem, while the loss of public oversight and the friction with still-unencrypted neighboring agencies are both immediate and real.
Can Kenai County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes. Whoever made this call for Seward Police Department can also unmake it; there's no technical lock-in. The approach that has worked elsewhere combines public-records requests, direct council pressure, and a coordinated local coalition.
What can I do about Seward Police Department encryption?
Start local: show up when Kenai County officials discuss the budget for Seward Police Department, and ask specifically why full encryption was chosen over a delayed feed or tactical-only approach. File a FOIA request for recordings or policy documents, and connect with others nearby who want the same information — a coordinated ask carries more weight than an individual one.