Emergency Medical Services Partially Encrypted

Metro Area Ambulance Service

Burleigh, North Dakota

What you can do right now

Encryption Details

Encryption Type P25 DES-OFB
Scope All Operations Except Paging and Dispatch
Technical Details P25 DES-OFB

Verification Status

We don't yet have per-talkgroup data for Metro Area Ambulance Service from the RadioReference API. The encryption scope and type above come from the RadioReference Wiki, which is community-maintained rather than independently confirmed channel-by-channel.

If you monitor Metro Area Ambulance Service 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.

Burleigh County Context

Metro Area Ambulance Service 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.

What This Means

This agency is listed as encrypting some communications while leaving others open. The per-channel breakdown is unverified — check RadioReference for current status.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Metro Area Ambulance Service radio encrypted?

Metro Area Ambulance Service is listed in our records with P25 DES-OFB encryption — a listing we haven't yet verified against live talkgroup data. This agency is listed as encrypting some communications while leaving others open. The per-channel breakdown is unverified — check RadioReference for current status.

Can I listen to Metro Area Ambulance Service on a police scanner?

Possibly. Our database lists Metro Area Ambulance Service 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 Metro Area Ambulance Service encrypt their radio?

Departments typically point to officer safety and operational security. Neither claim tends to come with evidence specific to Burleigh County; what's verifiable is what's lost — journalists can't monitor emergency medical services activity in real time, and coordination with agencies that stay unencrypted gets harder.

Can Burleigh County reverse the encryption decision?

Yes. Whoever made this call for Metro Area Ambulance Service 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 Metro Area Ambulance Service encryption?

Start local: show up when Burleigh County officials discuss the budget for Metro Area Ambulance Service, 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.

Data source: RadioReference Wiki

This information is compiled from community-reported data and may not reflect the most current status. If you have updated information, please contribute to the RadioReference Wiki.

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