Federal Bureau of Investigation
Statewide, Minnesota
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference lists all three FBI talkgroups carried on Minnesota's ARMER system as fully encrypted.
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
What This Means
This agency encrypts all of its radio communications, including routine dispatch. The public, journalists, and even other first responders can't monitor its activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Federal Bureau of Investigation radio encrypted?
Yes. Federal Bureau of Investigation uses P25 AES-256 encryption. This agency encrypts all of its radio communications, including routine dispatch. The public, journalists, and even other first responders can't monitor its activity.
Can I listen to Federal Bureau of Investigation on a police scanner?
No. Federal Bureau of Investigation has fully encrypted their radio communications using P25 AES-256. No consumer scanner can decode encrypted transmissions.
Why did Federal Bureau of Investigation encrypt their radio?
Agencies cite officer safety and operational security. Those are assertions rather than findings — no local evidence is typically produced — while the effects are concrete and land straight away on anyone who relied on hearing Federal Bureau of Investigation to know what was happening nearby.
Can Statewide County reverse the encryption decision?
Nothing technical prevents it. Federal Bureau of Investigation operates encrypted because someone decided it should, and decisions of that kind get revisited when councils hear sustained, organised pressure rather than isolated complaints.
What can I do about Federal Bureau of Investigation encryption?
File a FOIA request for Federal Bureau of Investigation's radio recordings and encryption-decision paperwork, then show up to speak at a council or commission meeting. Find other residents or journalists in Statewide County who want the same access — state legislation requiring public radio access is the longer-term fix, but organized local pressure is what usually moves the needle first.