MPD Encrypts 911 Radio Traffic, Stirs Debate Over Public Access and Officer Safety

MPD Encrypts 911 Radio Traffic, Stirs Debate Over Public Access and Officer Safety

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) has begun encrypting all 911 police radio traffic, making it the largest law enforcement agency in Minnesota to do so. Officials say the change is aimed at protecting sensitive information and enhancing officer safety. The move has sparked debate among journalists, scanner listeners, and transparency advocates concerned about public oversight. The decision aligns MPD with a growing state and national trend. Rochester, Olmsted County, Edina, and St. Louis Park have already adopted or announced similar measures, while St. Paul plans to begin encryption later this year. The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office was the first in Minnesota to close its channels, encrypting traffic in 2019.

Reasons for Encryption

City and police officials cite several reasons for the switch, including:

• Protecting Privacy: Dispatch calls often contain names, addresses, and other personal information about victims and witnesses. Encryption, officials say, helps prevent this data from being broadcast publicly.
• Enhancing Safety: Open radio traffic can allow suspects to monitor police movements in real time. Closing channels, according to law enforcement, reduces risks during active investigations, pursuits, or large public events.
• Limiting Misinformation: City leaders argue that partial or unverified details heard on scanners can spread quickly online. They say that controlling information through official channels ensures accuracy.

Opposition and Transparency Concerns

Critics counter that encryption limits accountability and erodes trust, particularly in a city still working to rebuild community-police relations.

• Reduced Public Oversight: Residents who previously relied on scanner traffic to stay informed about neighborhood incidents say they now feel cut off from timely information.
• Journalistic Challenges: Twin Cities reporters argue that live access to scanner audio is critical for covering breaking news. Without it, they must rely on official updates that can be delayed or incomplete.
• Dashboard Limitations: To address transparency concerns, Minneapolis launched a 911 Emergency Incidents Dashboard. Updated every 30 minutes, it displays a map of calls categorized by police, fire, or behavioral crisis response. While the city touts it as a new transparency tool, news outlets and open-government advocates say it lacks the immediacy and detail of live communications.

A Growing Statewide Trend

The debate unfolding in Minneapolis mirrors developments across Minnesota. In addition to Hennepin County, Rochester and Olmsted County encrypted their systems earlier this year, with more departments in Carver, Dakota, and Scott counties considering similar moves. Some fire and EMS agencies are also weighing the change.

Public safety officials argue encryption is now the national standard, while civil-liberties groups warn it risks closing a vital window into how law enforcement operates.

What’s at Stake

For law enforcement, encryption is framed as a matter of privacy, safety, and compliance with federal recommendations. For journalists and the public, it represents the loss of a decades-old tool for real-time oversight.

As more Minnesota agencies follow Minneapolis’ lead, the state is likely to see an intensifying debate over how to balance security and transparency — and whether dashboards and delayed reports can truly replace live access to emergency communications.

MinneapoliMedia