Bismarck Police Dept.
Burleigh, North Dakota
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference lists every Bismarck Police talkgroup on the state SIRN system as encrypted — "8114 | T Enc | BIS PD MAIN 1 | Police Main (Patch with 155.070) | Law Dispatch" plus Ops 1 through 3 — and the corresponding conventional channels in the Burleigh County listing are marked P25E.
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
Burleigh County Context
Bismarck Police Dept. isn't an outlier here: 3 of the 4 public-safety agencies we track in Burleigh County are fully encrypted (75%), so most departments nearby have made the same move.
See every agency we track in Burleigh County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
All traffic, including the day-to-day dispatch that used to be the public's window into police activity, now runs encrypted. Nothing from this department is receivable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bismarck Police Dept. radio encrypted?
Yes. Bismarck Police Dept. uses P25 DES-OFB encryption. All traffic, including the day-to-day dispatch that used to be the public's window into police activity, now runs encrypted. Nothing from this department is receivable.
Can I listen to Bismarck Police Dept. on a police scanner?
No. Bismarck Police Dept. has fully encrypted their radio communications using P25 DES-OFB. No consumer scanner can decode encrypted transmissions.
Why did Bismarck Police Dept. encrypt their radio?
The reasons offered are almost always the same two: officer safety and operational security. Whether either was tested against a real Burleigh County incident is rarely part of the public record, whereas the consequences are easy to observe — no real-time accountability, and neighbouring agencies still in the clear left working around the gap.
Can Burleigh County reverse the encryption decision?
Nothing technical prevents it. Bismarck Police Dept. 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 Bismarck Police Dept. encryption?
File a FOIA request for Bismarck Police Dept.'s radio recordings and encryption-decision paperwork, then show up to speak at a council or commission meeting. Find other residents or journalists in Burleigh 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.