Twin Cities Police Radio Dark: St. Paul Encryption Locks Out Scanners
One of America's largest metropolitan areas is now fully dark for police scanner listeners. The Saint Paul Police Department encrypted its radio communications as of 8:00 a.m. on Monday, January 5, 2026 — completing a metro-wide lockout that began with Minneapolis in 2025. Residents who once relied on live police scanner feeds to stay informed about emergencies in the Twin Cities now face silence on law enforcement channels, with only limited dashboards and delayed alerts as substitutes.
St. Paul's Encryption Completes a Multi-Year Transition
The Saint Paul Police Department announced the encryption on Facebook, marking the final major jurisdiction in the metro area to lock down its police radio. Minneapolis' main emergency-response channels had already gone fully encrypted on May 1, 2025, with the city launching a 911 dashboard updated every 30 minutes as a transparency alternative. Together, the two core cities anchor a region where police radio has been steadily disappearing for years.
Beyond the Core Cities: A Ring of Encryption
The encryption wave extends well beyond Minneapolis and St. Paul. Hennepin County Sheriff's Office encrypted its police channels as far back as 2019. Dakota County followed in September 2023, Washington County in June 2024, and Anoka County is currently planning its transition. For scanner listeners in the suburbs, the available open channels have been shrinking steadily, and the January 5 St. Paul switch closes the last major gap in the metro core.
Pushback From Law Enforcement and Watchdog Groups
Not everyone in Minnesota law enforcement supports the encryption trend. Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher publicly opposed the move, stating plainly that "the public ought to be able to hear what's going on." Rick Abbott, founder of MN Crime and operator of scanner-watch pages with 337,000 Facebook followers, called the encryption "a huge step backwards in terms of public safety, accountability and transparency." Their concerns echo those raised by transparency advocates across the country as police radio encryption becomes the norm under the CJIS 2027 deadline.
What's Left for Scanner Listeners in the Twin Cities?
While police channels are now encrypted across most of the metro, other public safety communications remain accessible. Fire department dispatch, EMS operations, and aircraft traffic often stay in the clear. Additionally, the city of Minneapolis operates a 911 emergency dashboard that updates every 30 minutes — though it is not a real-time alternative to live scanner audio. For listeners who want to monitor fire, EMS, and any remaining open channels, a pre-programmed Baofeng UV-5R Plus police scanner tuned to local frequencies can still provide valuable situational awareness.
A National Precedent
The Twin Cities join a growing list of major metros that have gone fully dark for scanner listeners. Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington D.C. (Fairfax County), and now the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area all represent tier-one media markets where live police radio is no longer publicly accessible. The trend is accelerating nationwide, driven by the CJIS encryption mandate, concerns over officer safety, and the growing availability of encrypted-capable radio hardware.
FAQ: Twin Cities Police Radio Encryption
When did St. Paul police encrypt their radios?
The Saint Paul Police Department went fully encrypted at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, January 5, 2026.
Which agencies in the Twin Cities are now encrypted?
St. Paul Police, Minneapolis Police (since May 2025), Hennepin County Sheriff (since 2019), Dakota County (Sept 2023), Washington County (June 2024), and Anoka County (planning). Most major law enforcement agencies in the metro are now encrypted.
Can I still hear anything on a police scanner in the Twin Cities?
Fire department dispatch, EMS operations, and aircraft communications often remain in the clear. Police channels, however, are encrypted — civilian scanners will hear only digital noise on those frequencies.
Is there a public alternative to live police radio?
Minneapolis operates a 911 dashboard updated every 30 minutes. It provides some situational awareness but is not a real-time replacement for live scanner audio.
Why did Ramsey County Sheriff Fletcher oppose encryption?
Sheriff Bob Fletcher publicly stated that "the public ought to be able to hear what's going on," reflecting concerns about transparency and accountability during emergencies.
Will more Minnesota counties encrypt?
Yes. Anoka County is currently planning its transition, and the CJIS 2027 deadline is pushing agencies across the state and country toward encryption. The trend shows no signs of slowing.
The bottom line: The Twin Cities are now one of the largest fully encrypted metro areas in the United States. For residents who still want to monitor open public safety channels — fire, EMS, and aircraft — a pre-programmed police scanner remains a valuable tool. But for live police radio, the era of open access in Minneapolis-St. Paul has come to an end.
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