Hackensack Meridian Health
Middlesex, New Jersey
How we verified this
As of August 2026 the only Hackensack Meridian Health talkgroup flagged encrypted on RadioReference's NJICS listing is MED 11, while the system's northern, central and southern regional dispatch, air operations and field operations talkgroups are in the clear and active on Broadcastify Calls.
Encryption Details
Middlesex County Context
Hackensack Meridian Health isn't an outlier here: 15 of the 17 public-safety agencies we track in Middlesex County are fully encrypted (88%), so most departments nearby have made the same move.
See every agency we track in Middlesex County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
This agency encrypts specific talkgroups or channels. Other communications may still be monitored.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hackensack Meridian Health radio encrypted?
Yes. Hackensack Meridian Health uses P25 AES-256 encryption. This agency encrypts specific talkgroups or channels. Other communications may still be monitored.
Can I listen to Hackensack Meridian Health on a police scanner?
Partially. Hackensack Meridian Health encrypts specific talkgroups rather than the whole system, so some channels may still be accessible. Check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.
Why did Hackensack Meridian Health 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 other agency response as it happens.
Can Middlesex County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes — nothing about the underlying radio technology forces this. It's a decision Middlesex County officials made and can revisit, and other communities have pushed departments back toward open channels through sustained council pressure and coalition-building.
What can I do about Hackensack Meridian Health encryption?
Three things carry weight, in this order: a public-records request for Hackensack Meridian Health's encryption policy and radio recordings, a turn at the microphone during Middlesex County budget discussions, and finding the other people locally already asking the same question. Individually these are easy to deflect; together they are not.