Fire Department Fully Encrypted

Raleigh Fire/EMS Department

Wake, North Carolina

What you can do right now

Encryption Details

Encryption Type P25 DES-OFB
Scope Special Events Channels, PS Events 1-5
Technical Details P25 DES-OFB

Verified Talkgroup Data

Verified Mar 6, 2026 Moderate confidence
208 Total Talkgroups
6 Encrypted
26 Mixed
176 Unencrypted
9% Encrypted
Radio System: Cary/Wake P25, FleetTalk Carolinas, North Carolina VIPER
View 32 talkgroups
DEC Alpha Tag Description Status
47060 RPD NWD TAC1 Raleigh Police Northwest District Tac 1 Mixed
47061 RPD NOD TAC1 Raleigh Police North District Tac 1 Mixed
47062 RPD NED TAC1 Raleigh Police Northeast District Tac 1 Mixed
47063 RPD SED TAC1 Raleigh Police Southeast District Tac 1 Mixed
47064 RPD DTD TAC1 Raleigh Police Downtown District Tac 1 Mixed
47065 RPD SWD TAC1 Raleigh Police Southwest District Tac 1 Mixed
47082 RPD SO TAC 2 Raleigh Police Spec Ops Tac 2 Mixed
47083 RPD SO TAC 3 Raleigh Police Spec Ops Tac 3 Mixed
47084 RPD SO TAC 4 Raleigh Police Spec Ops Tac 4 Mixed
47066 RPD NWD TAC2 Raleigh Police Northwest District Tac 2 Mixed
47067 RPD NOD TAC2 Raleigh Police North District Tac 2 Mixed
47068 RPD NED TAC2 Raleigh Police Northeast District Tac 2 Mixed
47069 RPD SED TAC2 Raleigh Police Southeast District Tac 2 Mixed
47070 RPD DTD TAC2 Raleigh Police Downtown District Tac 2 Mixed
47071 RPD SWD TAC2 Raleigh Police Southwest District Tac 2 Mixed
47085 RPD SO TAC 5 Raleigh Police Spec Ops Tac 5 Mixed
47086 RPD SO TAC 6 Raleigh Police Spec Ops Tac 6 Mixed
47087 RPD SO TAC 7 Raleigh Police Spec Ops Tac 7 Mixed
47088 RPD SO TAC 8 Raleigh Police Spec Ops Tac 8 Mixed
47089 RPD SO TAC 9 Raleigh Police Spec Ops Tac 9 Mixed
47090 RPD SO TAC 10 Raleigh Police Spec Ops Tac 10 Mixed
47091 RPD SO TAC 11 Raleigh Police Spec Ops Tac 11 Mixed
47094 RPD SO TAC 14 Raleigh Police Spec Ops Tac 14 Mixed
47095 RPD SO TAC 15 Raleigh Police Spec Ops Tac 15 Mixed
47096 RPD SO TAC 16 Raleigh Police Spec Ops Tac 16 Mixed
47081 RPD SO TAC 1 Raleigh Police Spec Ops Tac 1 Mixed
46971 WC EMS SPEVNT1 Special Event 1 Encrypted
46975 WC EMS SPEVNT2 Special Event 2 Encrypted
46976 WC EMS SPEVNT3 Special Event 3 Encrypted
46977 WC EMS SPEVNT4 Special Event 4 Encrypted
11541 Oconee Co EMS Oconee County EMS (Prisma Health) Encrypted
52044 NCOEMS Statewide North Carolina Office of EMS Statewide Encrypted

Verification Status

We don't yet have per-talkgroup data for Raleigh Fire/EMS Department 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 Raleigh Fire/EMS Department 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.

Wake County Context

Raleigh Fire/EMS Department isn't an outlier here: 10 of the 11 public-safety agencies we track in Wake County are fully encrypted (91%), so most departments nearby have made the same move.

What This Means

This agency is listed in our database as encrypting all of its radio communications, including routine dispatch. The listing is unverified — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Raleigh Fire/EMS Department radio encrypted?

Raleigh Fire/EMS Department is listed in our records with P25 DES-OFB encryption — a listing we haven't yet verified against live talkgroup data. This agency is listed in our database as encrypting all of its radio communications, including routine dispatch. The listing is unverified — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database.

Can I listen to Raleigh Fire/EMS Department on a police scanner?

Likely not, if the listing is accurate: our database lists Raleigh Fire/EMS Department as fully encrypted using P25 DES-OFB, which no consumer scanner can decode. The listing is unverified — check the live RadioReference database for current status.

Why do agencies like Raleigh Fire/EMS Department encrypt their radio?

Departments typically point to officer safety and operational security. Neither claim tends to come with evidence specific to Wake County; what's verifiable is what's lost — journalists can't monitor fire department activity in real time, and coordination with agencies that stay unencrypted gets harder.

Can Wake County reverse the encryption decision?

Yes. Whoever made this call for Raleigh Fire/EMS Department can also unmake it; there's no technical lock-in. The approach that has worked elsewhere combines public-records requests, direct council pressure, and a coordinated local coalition.

What can I do about Raleigh Fire/EMS Department encryption?

Ask for the paperwork first — the policy that authorised encryption for Raleigh Fire/EMS Department, and the recordings themselves — because a specific request is harder to wave away than a general complaint. Then take what you learn to a council meeting, and bring others from Wake County with you.

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