All 8 listed Hennepin County agencies are encrypted
8 public safety agencies in Hennepin County, Minnesota have encrypted their radio communications. 100% Encrypted
Radio encryption in Hennepin County
Two encryption schemes show up in Hennepin County. The Minneapolis Police Department and the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office use P25 DES-OFB, while Edina, Golden Valley, Minnatoka, Plymouth and St. Louis Park police and the Minneapolis Fire Department are listed with P25 AES-256. All eight are recorded as encrypting everything monitored. County traffic spans ARMER plus three smaller systems: Alpha-Ancom Connect Plus, US Bank Stadium and Xcel Energy Minnesota. The talkgroup catalog is large and mostly open, with 359 of 423 entries clear against 63 encrypted, so a scanner picks up plenty even though the major municipal police and fire agencies are not part of it. Only the Minneapolis Fire Department record is unverified against RadioReference.
Compiled from this site's agency database. Encryption status changes without notice — confirm any specific agency on RadioReference.
Radio systems serving Hennepin County
- Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response (ARMER)
- Alpha-Ancom Connect Plus
- US Bank Stadium
- Xcel Energy Minnesota
Of 423 talkgroups catalogued for Hennepin County, 63 are encrypted and 359 remain in the clear. A scanner can still receive the unencrypted channels.
7 of 8 records here have been checked against a primary source; 1 has not.
System and talkgroup counts come from this site's agency database and change without notice — confirm current status on RadioReference.
Encryption Technology Used in Hennepin County
Encrypted Agencies in Hennepin County
| Agency Name | Type | Encryption | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edina Police Department ✓ | Police | P25 AES-256 | Fully Encrypted |
| Golden Valley Police Department ✓ | Police | P25 AES-256 | Fully Encrypted |
| Hennepin County Sheriffs Office ✓ | Sheriff | P25 DES-OFB | Fully Encrypted |
| Minneapolis Fire Department | Fire | P25 AES-256 | Fully Encrypted |
| Minneapolis Police Department ✓ | Police | P25 DES-OFB | Fully Encrypted |
| Minnatoka Police Department ✓ | Police | P25 AES-256 | Fully Encrypted |
| Plymouth Police Department ✓ | Police | P25 AES-256 | Fully Encrypted |
| St. Louis Park Police Department ✓ | Police | P25 AES-256 | Fully Encrypted |
Related Case Studies
Learn more about police radio encryption issues in Hennepin County and Minnesota.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hennepin County police radio encrypted?
Yes, all 8 public safety agencies in Hennepin County, Minnesota have fully encrypted their radio communications.
Can I listen to Hennepin County Sheriff on a scanner?
The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office has encrypted their radio communications using P25 AES-256. Scanner monitoring of sheriff operations is no longer possible.
How many police departments in Hennepin County are encrypted?
6 police departments in Hennepin County have implemented some level of encryption, along with 1 sheriff offices, 1 fire departments, and 0 EMS agencies.
What encryption technology does Hennepin County use?
The most common encryption type in Hennepin County is P25 AES-256, used by agencies for secure communications. This encryption blocks public scanner monitoring.
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