Denver International Airport
Denver, Colorado
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference lists all four Denver International Airport police talkgroups — dispatch, tactical, car-to-car and special response — as encrypted, while the airport's fire and security dispatch talkgroups remain in the clear.
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
Denver County Context
Denver International Airport isn't an outlier here: 6 of the 6 public-safety agencies we track in Denver County are fully encrypted (100%), so most departments nearby have made the same move.
See every agency we track in Denver County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
All traffic, including the day-to-day dispatch that used to be the public's window into police activity, now runs encrypted. Nothing from this department is receivable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Denver International Airport radio encrypted?
Yes. Denver International Airport uses P25 AES-256 encryption. All traffic, including the day-to-day dispatch that used to be the public's window into police activity, now runs encrypted. Nothing from this department is receivable.
Can I listen to Denver International Airport on a police scanner?
No. Denver International Airport has fully encrypted their radio communications using P25 AES-256. No consumer scanner can decode encrypted transmissions.
Why did Denver International Airport encrypt their radio?
The standard justification nationwide is officer safety and operational security, regardless of whether a documented local incident ever required it. The tradeoff that follows is consistent too: public oversight drops, and reporters lose the ability to track airport authority response as it happens.
Can Denver County reverse the encryption decision?
It can. The radios support open and encrypted operation equally well, so this is a configuration and a policy, not a constraint — and policies set by Denver County officials are policies those officials can revisit when constituents press for it.
What can I do about Denver International Airport encryption?
Put the question to whoever signs off on Denver International Airport's radio budget: why full encryption rather than a delayed feed or tactical-only channels? File for the recordings and the decision documents alongside it, and link up with neighbours and local reporters in Denver County so the ask arrives as a group rather than a one-off.