MABAS
Statewide, Illinois
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference lists nine MABAS 'Secure' STARCOM21 talkgroups — Admin Secure 1 and 2, HazMat Secure, Technical Rescue Secure, IL-TF1 Secure and Ops 3–5 Secure — as encrypted, while the corresponding non-secure MABAS admin, HazMat, rescue and USAR talkgroups remain in the clear.
Encryption Details
What This Means
Encryption here is a mixed bag: some talkgroups are locked, others aren't. It varies by channel and by what the department is doing at the time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MABAS radio encrypted?
Yes — MABAS's radio system runs on P25 AES-256 encryption. Encryption here is a mixed bag: some talkgroups are locked, others aren't. It varies by channel and by what the department is doing at the time.
Can I listen to MABAS on a police scanner?
Partially. MABAS encrypts some of its talkgroups while leaving others open, so some channels may still be accessible. Check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.
Why did MABAS encrypt their radio?
Departments typically point to officer safety and operational security. Neither claim tends to come with evidence specific to Statewide County; what's verifiable is what's lost — journalists can't monitor other agency activity in real time, and coordination with agencies that stay unencrypted gets harder.
Can Statewide 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 MABAS encryption?
Contact the officials who oversee MABAS'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 Statewide County, or start one, since agencies respond differently to organized, sustained pressure than to individual complaints.