Police Radio Encryption in New Mexico
New Mexico has an encryption rate of 13%. Out of 153 tracked public safety agencies, 9 are fully encrypted, 23 are partially encrypted, and 121 broadcast in the clear.
Agencies by Type
Encrypted & Partially Encrypted Agencies in New Mexico
- Dona Ana County (Dona Ana County) — Encrypted
- Federal Protective Service (Bernalillo County) — Encrypted
- Intel Corporation (Sandoval County) — Encrypted
- NM Energy Minerals Natural Resources Department (Bernalillo County) — Encrypted
- Navajo Nation (San Juan County) — Encrypted
- Navajo Nation (McKinley County) — Encrypted
- New Mexico Department of Information Technology (NMDOIT) (Statewide) — Encrypted
- Pecos (San Miguel County) — Encrypted
- San Juan County Public Safety (San Juan County) — Encrypted
- Airports (Bernalillo County) — Partial
- Albuquerque International Airport (Statewide) — Partial
- Albuquerque Police Department (Statewide) — Partial
- Bernalillo County Sheriff (Statewide) — Partial
- Businesses (Luna County) — Partial
- Businesses (Santa Fe County) — Partial
- Catron County (Catron County) — Partial
- Code 3 Service XPT (Valencia County) — Partial
- Devon Energy (Lea County) — Partial
- Hagerman (Chaves County) — Partial
- Hotels/Casino (Santa Fe County) — Partial
- Kirtland Air Force Base / Sandia Labs / DOE P-25 (Bernalillo County) — Partial
- Las Cruces (Dona Ana County) — Partial
- Lea County Communication Authority (P25) (Lea County) — Partial
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (Los Alamos County) — Partial
- Meta Data Center (Valencia County) — Partial
- NM Mounted Patrol (Bernalillo County) — Partial
- New Mexico Corrections Department (Statewide) — Partial
- New Mexico State Police (Statewide) — Partial
- Roswell Independent School District (Chaves County) — Partial
- Sandoval County (Sandoval County) — Partial
- Santa Rosa (Guadalupe County) — Partial
- State of Colorado DTRS (Rio Arriba County) — Partial
Statewide Encrypted Systems
These agencies operate on statewide radio systems and serve multiple jurisdictions across New Mexico.
- New Mexico Department of Information Technology (NMDOIT) (New Mexico DTRS) — Encrypted
- Albuquerque International Airport (New Mexico DTRS) — Partial
- Albuquerque Police Department (New Mexico DTRS) — Partial
- Bernalillo County Sheriff (New Mexico DTRS) — Partial
- New Mexico Corrections Department (New Mexico DTRS) — Partial
- New Mexico State Police (New Mexico DTRS) — Partial
County Breakdown
26 counties tracked across New Mexico. 15 have at least one encrypted or partially encrypted agency.
View all 26 counties
| County | Agencies | Encrypted | Partial | Clear | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luna County | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50% |
| San Juan County | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 33% |
| McKinley County | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 33% |
| San Miguel County | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 33% |
| Dona Ana County | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 30% |
| Lea County | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 25% |
| Guadalupe County | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 25% |
| Sandoval County | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 21% |
| Valencia County | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 20% |
| Santa Fe County | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 17% |
| Catron County | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 17% |
| Chaves County | 7 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 14% |
| Bernalillo County | 30 | 2 | 3 | 25 | 12% |
| Los Alamos County | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 10% |
| Rio Arriba County | 8 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 6% |
| Roosevelt County | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0% |
| Cibola County | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0% |
| Grant County | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0% |
| Eddy County | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0% |
| Lincoln County | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0% |
| Taos County | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0% |
| Curry County | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| Socorro County | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| Union County | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| Colfax County | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Otero County | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
What This Means for New Mexico Residents
New Mexico has a relatively low encryption rate of 13%. The majority of public safety agencies (121 out of 153) still broadcast in the clear, meaning scanner listeners and journalists retain access to most emergency radio traffic.
Encryption status can change at any time as agencies upgrade equipment or adopt new policies. The RTDNA considers police radio encryption the #1 threat to journalism in America. Use our search tool to check specific cities and counties in New Mexico.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is police radio encrypted in New Mexico?
In New Mexico, 9 out of 153 tracked public safety agencies use fully encrypted radio, and 23 use partial encryption. The overall encryption rate is 13%. Use the search tool on the homepage to check specific cities and counties.
Can I listen to police scanners in New Mexico?
Yes — 121 agencies in New Mexico still broadcast in the clear and can be monitored with a scanner. Check specific agencies using our search tool for detailed channel information.
How often is New Mexico data updated?
Data for New Mexico is synchronized weekly from RadioReference.com. Encryption status reflects the latest known radio configurations, though agencies can change their setup without notice. Report incorrect data.
Search all 153 agencies in New Mexico →
States with Similar Encryption Rates
Maryland (13%) · Alabama (13%) · Florida (13%) · District of Columbia (14%) · Vermont (12%)
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