Fire Department Partially Encrypted

Union Township Fire

Union, New Jersey

What you can do right now

Encryption Details

Encryption Type P25 AES-256
Scope Some talkgroups encrypted (37.5% per RadioReference data); others remain in the clear.
Technical Details P25 Phase II AES-256

Verified Talkgroup Data

Verified Mar 6, 2026 Moderate confidence
8 Total Talkgroups
3 Encrypted
5 Unencrypted
38% Encrypted
Radio System: New Jersey Interoperability Communications System (NJICS)
View 3 talkgroups
DEC Alpha Tag Description Status
4679 UTPD Dispatch Union Twp PD Dispatch Encrypted
4699 UTEMS Tac Union Twp EMS Tac Encrypted
4697 UTFD Training Union Twp Fire Training Encrypted

Verification Status

We do have per-talkgroup data for Union Township Fire 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 Union Township Fire 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.

Shared Radio System

Union County, New Jersey runs New Jersey Interoperability Communications System (NJICS) as shared infrastructure: 1 agencies, Union Township Fire included, ride the same system and inherit the same encryption status rather than each having made a separate call.

Union County Context

Union County is a mixed picture: 2 of 12 agencies we track here are fully encrypted (17%), which means some neighboring departments are still audible on a scanner.

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.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Union Township Fire radio encrypted?

Our database lists Union Township Fire 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 Union Township Fire on a police scanner?

Possibly. Our database lists Union Township Fire 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 Union Township Fire encrypt their radio?

Agencies cite officer safety and operational security. Those are assertions rather than findings — no local evidence is typically produced — while the effects are concrete and land straight away on anyone who relied on hearing Union Township Fire to know what was happening nearby.

Can Union County reverse the encryption decision?

Nothing technical prevents it. Union Township Fire 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 Union Township Fire encryption?

Three things carry weight, in this order: a public-records request for Union Township Fire's encryption policy and radio recordings, a turn at the microphone during Union County budget discussions, and finding the other people locally already asking the same question. Individually these are easy to deflect; together they are not.

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