Sheriff's Office Fully Encrypted
Ward County Sheriff's Dept.
Ward, North Dakota
Encryption Details
Encryption Type P25 DES-OFB
Scope All Operations
Technical Details P25 DES-OFB
Verified Talkgroup Data
Verified Jan 2, 2026 Moderate confidence
29 Total Talkgroups
13 Encrypted
16 Unencrypted
45% Encrypted
Radio System: North Dakota Statewide Interoperable Radio Network (SIRN 20/20)
View 13 talkgroups
| DEC | Alpha Tag | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 51101 | WARD SO 1 | Sheriff Main 1 | Encrypted |
| 51103 | WARD SO OPS 1 | Sheriff Ops 1 | Encrypted |
| 51104 | WARD SO OPS 2 | Sheriff Ops 2 | Encrypted |
| 51105 | WARD SO OPS 3 | Sheriff Ops 3 | Encrypted |
| 51106 | WARD LE PURSUIT | Sheriff Pursuit | Encrypted |
| 51107 | WARD SO FAIR OP | Sheriff State Fairground Ops | Encrypted |
| 51108 | WARD SO SP OPS 1 | Sheriff Special Ops 1 | Encrypted |
| 51110 | WARD SO TF OPS | BCI Task Force Ops | Encrypted |
| 51123 | WARD PD MAIN | Countywide Police Depts Main | Encrypted |
| 51124 | WARD PD OPS 1 | Countywide Police Ops 1 | Encrypted |
| 51125 | WARD PD OPS 2 | Countywide Police Ops 2 | Encrypted |
| 51401 | WARD CW MA 01E | Countywide Mutual Aid 1 | Encrypted |
| 51402 | WARD CW MA 02E | Countywide Mutual Aid 2 | Encrypted |
What This Means
This agency encrypts all of their radio communications, including routine dispatch. The public, journalists, and even other first responders cannot monitor their activities.
Impact on Transparency
- Journalists cannot monitor police activity for breaking news or investigative reporting
- Community members cannot track police response to incidents in their neighborhood
- Researchers cannot study police communication patterns and response times
- Other first responders may face interoperability challenges during emergencies
Take Action
Want to help restore transparency to Ward County? Here's how you can make a difference: