Harrodsburg Police
Mercer, Kentucky
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference notes that "Harrodsburg PD is dispatched on Mercer Co SO Ch", and lists that channel as encrypted — "159.090 | Mercer SO Dsp | Sheriff-Dispatch Enc | NXDN48E | Law Dispatch"; no separate Harrodsburg police frequency is listed.
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
Mercer County Context
Harrodsburg Police isn't an outlier here: 4 of the 4 public-safety agencies we track in Mercer County are fully encrypted (100%), so most departments nearby have made the same move.
See every agency we track in Mercer 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 Harrodsburg Police radio encrypted?
Yes — Harrodsburg Police's radio system runs on NXDN Scrambling 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 Harrodsburg Police on a police scanner?
No. Harrodsburg Police has fully encrypted their radio communications using NXDN Scrambling. No consumer scanner can decode encrypted transmissions.
Why did Harrodsburg Police encrypt their radio?
Ask why, and the answer is usually officer safety, sometimes operational security. What is harder to obtain is any documented case in Mercer County where an open channel caused harm. The costs need no such documentation: reporting on police department response slows down, and mutual-aid coordination gets more awkward, immediately.
Can Mercer County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes. Encryption is a policy choice made by department leadership or elected officials, not a technical requirement, so it can be reversed the same way. Public pressure, city council advocacy, and organized local coalitions have reversed encryption decisions elsewhere.
What can I do about Harrodsburg Police encryption?
Contact the officials who oversee Harrodsburg Police's budget directly and ask why full encryption was chosen over partial alternatives. Pair that with a FOIA request for recordings and policy records, and look for an existing coalition in Mercer County, or start one, since agencies respond differently to organized, sustained pressure than to individual complaints.