Police Department Partially Encrypted

Minneapolis Police Department

Hennepin, Minnesota

What you can do right now

Encryption Details

Encryption Type P25 DES-OFB
Scope Some talkgroups encrypted (80% per RadioReference data); others remain in the clear.
Technical Details P25 DES-OFB

Verified Talkgroup Data

Verified Mar 6, 2026 Moderate confidence
5 Total Talkgroups
4 Encrypted
1 Unencrypted
80% Encrypted
Radio System: Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response (ARMER)
View 4 talkgroups
DEC Alpha Tag Description Status
3076 MPLS PD 3076 Minneapolis Police 3076 Encrypted
3092 MPLS PD 3092 Minneapolis Police 3092 Encrypted
3080 MPLS PD 3080 Minneapolis Police 3080 Encrypted
49378 CY 11E Clay 11E - Patched to MPD Loop Encrypted

Verification Status

We do have per-talkgroup data for Minneapolis Police Department from the RadioReference API, and used it to set the encryption scope shown above — but no additional human-reviewed source (a live feed check or a dated news account) has been recorded for this record, so treat it as a data-quality correction rather than an independently confirmed verification. Check the live RadioReference database directly for current status.

If you monitor Minneapolis Police Department directly or have more current information, the fastest way to fix this is to update the RadioReference Wiki entry — our data pulls from there and from the RadioReference API on a regular refresh cycle.

Shared Radio System

Hennepin County, Minnesota runs Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response (ARMER) as shared infrastructure: 1 agencies, Minneapolis Police Department included, ride the same system and inherit the same encryption status rather than each having made a separate call.

Hennepin County Context

Hennepin County is a mixed picture: 1 of 8 agencies we track here are fully encrypted (13%), which means some neighboring departments are still audible on a scanner.

What This Means

Our records list a mix here: some talkgroups encrypted, others not. The listing is unverified, so confirm what is audible at RadioReference.

See encryption status nationwide Interactive map showing which US police departments have encrypted their radios. Open the encryption map →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Minneapolis Police Department radio encrypted?

Our database lists Minneapolis Police Department as using P25 DES-OFB encryption, though this listing is unverified. Our records list a mix here: some talkgroups encrypted, others not. The listing is unverified, so confirm what is audible at RadioReference.

Can I listen to Minneapolis Police Department on a police scanner?

Possibly. Our database lists Minneapolis Police Department as encrypting some of its talkgroups while leaving others open, which would leave some channels accessible. The listing is unverified — check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.

Why do agencies like Minneapolis Police Department 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 Minneapolis Police Department to know what was happening nearby.

Can Hennepin County reverse the encryption decision?

Nothing technical prevents it. Minneapolis Police Department 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 Minneapolis Police Department encryption?

Put the question to whoever signs off on Minneapolis Police Department'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 Hennepin County so the ask arrives as a group rather than a one-off.

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