Can I listen to Ward County Sheriff's Dept. on a police scanner?

No. Ward County Sheriff's Dept. has fully encrypted their radio communications using P25 DES-OFB. No consumer scanner can decode encrypted transmissions.

Why did Ward County Sheriff's Dept. encrypt their radio?

Police departments typically cite officer safety and operational security as reasons for encryption. However, encryption also eliminates public oversight, prevents journalists from monitoring police activity, and can harm emergency coordination with other agencies.

Can Ward County reverse the encryption decision?

Yes. Encryption is a policy choice, not a technical requirement. Multiple communities have successfully reversed encryption decisions through public pressure, city council advocacy, and coalition building. See our guide on fighting encryption for specific strategies.

What can I do about Ward County Sheriff's Dept. encryption?

You can: 1) Contact your local elected officials to express concerns, 2) Attend city council meetings during budget discussions, 3) File FOIA requests for radio recordings, 4) Join or build a local coalition advocating for transparency, 5) Support legislation requiring public access to police communications.

Sheriff's Office Fully Encrypted

Ward County Sheriff's Dept.

Q: Is Ward County Sheriff's Dept. radio encrypted?

Yes. Ward County Sheriff's Dept. uses P25 DES-OFB encryption. This agency encrypts all of their radio communications, including routine dispatch. The public, journalists, and even other first responders cannot monitor their activities.

Ward, North Dakota

What you can do right now

My city went dark — now what? Step-by-step guide for residents of newly encrypted areas. What you can still monitor Fire, EMS, and surrounding-jurisdiction channels often remain open. Request the recordings FOIA templates for Ward County Sheriff's Dept. radio archives. Reverse the decision Tactics from cities that successfully reversed police encryption.

Encryption Details

Encryption Type P25 DES-OFB

Scope All Operations

Technical Details P25 DES-OFB

Verified Talkgroup Data

Verified Mar 6, 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

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

Ward County Sheriff's Dept. Ward, North Dakota

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Ward County Sheriff's Dept.

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Encryption Details

Verified Talkgroup Data

What This Means

Impact on Transparency

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Getting Started

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Quick Response

Featured Cases

City & Regional

State Analyses

Databases & Tools

Learn & Understand

Scanner Guides

Gear & Equipment

Emergency Kits

Radio Comparisons

Specialized Guides

Research & Policy

For Stakeholders

About & Support

What you can do right now

Encryption Details

Verified Talkgroup Data

What This Means

Impact on Transparency

Take Action

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