Fort Benton Police Department
Chouteau, Montana
How we verified this
As of August 2026 the single Fort Benton Police frequency on RadioReference's Chouteau County page, 155.490 ("Ft Benton PD — Police"), is listed in mode "FMNE" — analog narrowband with encryption — while the Chouteau County Sheriff's dispatch at 154.875 remains plain "FMN".
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
What This Means
Everything this agency transmits is encrypted, dispatch included. For anyone outside the department — residents, reporters, neighbouring responders — the channel is simply silent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fort Benton Police Department radio encrypted?
Yes — Fort Benton Police Department's radio system runs on Analog Voice Inversion encryption. Everything this agency transmits is encrypted, dispatch included. For anyone outside the department — residents, reporters, neighbouring responders — the channel is simply silent.
Can I listen to Fort Benton Police Department on a police scanner?
No. Fort Benton Police Department has fully encrypted their radio communications using Analog Voice Inversion. No consumer scanner can decode encrypted transmissions.
Why did Fort Benton Police Department encrypt their radio?
Officer safety and operational security are the reasons agencies give. What rarely comes with that explanation is Chouteau County-specific evidence that open communications ever caused a problem, while the loss of public oversight and the friction with still-unencrypted neighboring agencies are both immediate and real.
Can Chouteau County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes. Whoever made this call for Fort Benton Police Department can also unmake it; there's no technical lock-in. The approach that has worked elsewhere combines public-records requests, direct council pressure, and a coordinated local coalition.
What can I do about Fort Benton Police Department encryption?
Start local: show up when Chouteau County officials discuss the budget for Fort Benton Police Department, and ask specifically why full encryption was chosen over a delayed feed or tactical-only approach. File a FOIA request for recordings or policy documents, and connect with others nearby who want the same information — a coordinated ask carries more weight than an individual one.