McHenry Fire/EMS
McHenry, Illinois
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
View 4 talkgroups
| DEC | Alpha Tag | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1105 | McHenry ShrfTac2 | Sheriff: Tac-2 | Encrypted |
| 1106 | McHenry ShrfTac3 | Sheriff: Tac-3 | Encrypted |
| 3451 | NERCOM E Police | Police: Dispatch-Fox River Grove, Johnsburg, McCullom Lake, McHenry | Encrypted |
| 34102 | SEECOM Police 1 | Police: Dispatch-Algonquin, Cary, McHenry County College, Oakwood Hills | Encrypted |
Verification Status
We do have per-talkgroup data for McHenry Fire/EMS from the RadioReference API, and used it to set the encryption scope shown above — but no additional human-reviewed source (a live feed check or a dated news account) has been recorded for this record, so treat it as a data-quality correction rather than an independently confirmed verification. Check the live RadioReference database directly for current status.
If you monitor McHenry Fire/EMS directly or have more current information, the fastest way to fix this is to update the RadioReference Wiki entry — our data pulls from there and from the RadioReference API on a regular refresh cycle.
McHenry County Context
McHenry County is a mixed picture: 1 of 8 agencies we track here are fully encrypted (13%), which means some neighboring departments are still audible on a scanner.
See every agency we track in McHenry County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
Our records list a mix here: some talkgroups encrypted, others not. The listing is unverified, so confirm what is audible at RadioReference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is McHenry Fire/EMS radio encrypted?
Our database lists McHenry Fire/EMS as using P25 AES-256 encryption, though this listing is unverified. Our records list a mix here: some talkgroups encrypted, others not. The listing is unverified, so confirm what is audible at RadioReference.
Can I listen to McHenry Fire/EMS on a police scanner?
Possibly. Our database lists McHenry Fire/EMS as encrypting some of its talkgroups while leaving others open, which would leave some channels accessible. The listing is unverified — check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.
Why do agencies like McHenry Fire/EMS encrypt their radio?
The standard justification nationwide is officer safety and operational security, regardless of whether a documented local incident ever required it. The tradeoff that follows is consistent too: public oversight drops, and reporters lose the ability to track fire department response as it happens.
Can McHenry County reverse the encryption decision?
It can. The radios support open and encrypted operation equally well, so this is a configuration and a policy, not a constraint — and policies set by McHenry County officials are policies those officials can revisit when constituents press for it.
What can I do about McHenry Fire/EMS encryption?
Three things carry weight, in this order: a public-records request for McHenry Fire/EMS's encryption policy and radio recordings, a turn at the microphone during McHenry County budget discussions, and finding the other people locally already asking the same question. Individually these are easy to deflect; together they are not.