Benwood Police Department
Marshall, West Virginia
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference lists Benwood Police dispatch on the WV SIRN in the clear — "2424 | Benwood PD | Benwood Police - Dispatch" is plain "T" and is flagged as carried by an online feed — while only "2483 | Benwood PD Pv | Benwood Police - Private" is marked "D Enc".
Encryption Details
Marshall County Context
Of the 20 public-safety agencies we track in Marshall County, Benwood Police Department is currently the only one we have flagged as encrypted.
See every agency we track in Marshall County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
This agency encrypts some of its communications while leaving others open. Which channels are affected depends on the operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Benwood Police Department radio encrypted?
Yes — Benwood Police Department's radio system runs on P25 AES-256 encryption. This agency encrypts some of its communications while leaving others open. Which channels are affected depends on the operation.
Can I listen to Benwood Police Department on a police scanner?
Partially. Benwood Police Department encrypts some of its talkgroups while leaving others open, so some channels may still be accessible. Check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.
Why did Benwood Police Department encrypt their radio?
Ask why, and the answer is usually officer safety, sometimes operational security. What is harder to obtain is any documented case in Marshall County where an open channel caused harm. The costs need no such documentation: reporting on police department response slows down, and mutual-aid coordination gets more awkward, immediately.
Can Marshall County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes, and some departments already have. Because encryption here is a choice rather than a technical necessity, the path back runs through the same people who chose it: budget hearings, records requests, and residents who keep asking in public.
What can I do about Benwood Police Department encryption?
Contact the officials who oversee Benwood Police Department's budget directly and ask why full encryption was chosen over partial alternatives. Pair that with a FOIA request for recordings and policy records, and look for an existing coalition in Marshall County, or start one, since agencies respond differently to organized, sustained pressure than to individual complaints.