Dunn County Sheriff's Dept.
Dunn, North Dakota
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference lists both Dunn County sheriff channels without an encryption marker — "159.165 | DUNN SO 4 | Sheriff's Dept Ch 4 | P25 | Law Dispatch" and "151.460 | DUNN SO 1 | Sheriff's Dept. | FMN | Law Dispatch" — and Dunn County has no talkgroups on the state SIRN system.
Encryption Details
What This Means
This agency was previously listed as encrypted, but verification against live sources on 2026-08-09 found its dispatch broadcasting in the clear. Any P25-capable scanner can receive it — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database, since encryption decisions can change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dunn County Sheriff's Dept. radio encrypted?
No. Despite earlier listings, Dunn County Sheriff's Dept. broadcasts in the clear. This agency was previously listed as encrypted, but verification against live sources on 2026-08-09 found its dispatch broadcasting in the clear. Any P25-capable scanner can receive it — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database, since encryption decisions can change.
Can I listen to Dunn County Sheriff's Dept. on a police scanner?
Yes. Verification against live sources found Dunn County Sheriff's Dept.'s dispatch broadcasting in the clear — any P25-capable scanner can receive it. Check RadioReference for frequencies and current status.
Why do agencies like Dunn County Sheriff's Dept. encrypt their radio?
The standard justification nationwide is officer safety and operational security, regardless of whether a documented local incident ever required it. The tradeoff that follows is consistent too: public oversight drops, and reporters lose the ability to track sheriff's office response as it happens.
Can Dunn County reverse the encryption decision?
It can. The radios support open and encrypted operation equally well, so this is a configuration and a policy, not a constraint — and policies set by Dunn County officials are policies those officials can revisit when constituents press for it.
What can I do about Dunn County Sheriff's Dept. encryption?
File a FOIA request for Dunn County Sheriff's 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 Dunn 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.