Fire Department Specific Channels

Madison County Fire/EMS

Madison, Indiana

What you can do right now

Encryption Details

Encryption Type P25 AES-256
Scope Only Countywide EMS Talkgroup is encrypted
Technical Details P25 AES-256

Verified Talkgroup Data

Verified Mar 6, 2026 Moderate confidence
203 Total Talkgroups
2 Encrypted
12 Mixed
189 Unencrypted
4% Encrypted
Radio System: Metropolitan Emergency Services Agency (MESA) (Formerly IDPS), ERS-OCI Wireless TRBOconnect Con+, Indiana Project Hoosier SAFE-T
View 14 talkgroups
DEC Alpha Tag Description Status
48020 48 FD/EMS EMS: Operations (Countywide) Encrypted
21600 LL EMS TerreHaut Terre Haute Base Mixed
21601 LL EMS Columbus Columbus Base Mixed
21602 LL EMS Central Central Base (Indianapolis) Mixed
21619 LL EMS WLafayett West Lafayette Base Mixed
21603 LL EMS TH Tac Terre Haute Tactical Mixed
21604 LL EMS Col Tac Columbus Tactical Mixed
21605 LL EMS Cntrl Tac Central Tactical (Indianapolis) Mixed
21698 LL EMS NewCastle New Castle Base Mixed
21699 LL EMS Lutheran Lutheran Operations Mixed
10276 27-EMS OPS EMS: Operations Mixed
10370 32M-HRH EMS-to-Hendricks Regional ER Mixed
10372 32M-IUW EMS-to-IU Health West ER Mixed
12664 76-MED 1 EMS-to-Hospital ER - MED 1 Encrypted

Verification Status

We don't yet have per-talkgroup data for Madison County Fire/EMS from the RadioReference API. The encryption scope and type above come from the RadioReference Wiki, which is community-maintained rather than independently confirmed channel-by-channel. Our automated matching put this at moderate confidence (70%) based on how closely the wiki listing matches this agency's name and county.

If you monitor Madison County 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.

Madison County Context

Of the 3 public-safety agencies we track in Madison County, Madison County Fire/EMS is currently the only one we have flagged as encrypted.

What This Means

Our records list a subset of this department's talkgroups as encrypted rather than the whole system. Verify the current per-channel status at RadioReference.

See encryption status nationwide Interactive map showing which US police departments have encrypted their radios. Open the encryption map →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Madison County Fire/EMS radio encrypted?

Our database lists Madison County Fire/EMS as using P25 AES-256 encryption, though this listing is unverified. Our records list a subset of this department's talkgroups as encrypted rather than the whole system. Verify the current per-channel status at RadioReference.

Can I listen to Madison County Fire/EMS on a police scanner?

Possibly. Our database lists Madison County Fire/EMS as encrypting specific talkgroups rather than the whole system, which would leave some channels accessible. The listing is unverified — check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.

Why do agencies like Madison County 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 Madison County reverse the encryption decision?

Nothing technical prevents it. Madison County Fire/EMS operates encrypted because someone decided it should, and decisions of that kind get revisited when councils hear sustained, organised pressure rather than isolated complaints.

What can I do about Madison County Fire/EMS encryption?

File a FOIA request for Madison County Fire/EMS's radio recordings and encryption-decision paperwork, then show up to speak at a council or commission meeting. Find other residents or journalists in Madison County who want the same access — state legislation requiring public radio access is the longer-term fix, but organized local pressure is what usually moves the needle first.

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