Kirtland Air Force Base
Bernalillo, New Mexico
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
Verification Status
We do have per-talkgroup data for Kirtland Air Force Base from the RadioReference API, and used it to correct this listing’s encryption status — 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 Kirtland Air Force Base 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.
Bernalillo County Context
Bernalillo County is a mixed picture: 2 of 5 agencies we track here are fully encrypted (40%), which means some neighboring departments are still audible on a scanner.
See every agency we track in Bernalillo County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
This agency was previously listed as encrypted, but its own RadioReference talkgroup data (reviewed 2026-09-28) shows 0% of its talkgroups actually encrypted. Any scanner can receive it — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database, since encryption decisions can change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kirtland Air Force Base radio encrypted?
No. Despite earlier listings, Kirtland Air Force Base broadcasts in the clear. This agency was previously listed as encrypted, but its own RadioReference talkgroup data (reviewed 2026-09-28) shows 0% of its talkgroups actually encrypted. Any scanner can receive it — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database, since encryption decisions can change.
Can I listen to Kirtland Air Force Base on a police scanner?
Yes. Kirtland Air Force Base's own RadioReference talkgroup data shows its dispatch broadcasting in the clear — any scanner can receive it. Check RadioReference for frequencies and current status.
Why do agencies like Kirtland Air Force Base encrypt their radio?
Officer safety and operational security are the reasons agencies give. What rarely comes with that explanation is Bernalillo 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 Bernalillo 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 Kirtland Air Force Base encryption?
Ask for the paperwork first — the policy that authorised encryption for Kirtland Air Force Base, and the recordings themselves — because a specific request is harder to wave away than a general complaint. Then take what you learn to a council meeting, and bring others from Bernalillo County with you.