Berks County Department of Emergency Services
Berks, Pennsylvania
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference's Berks County entry says of the county P25 system that "Law enforcement dispatch and operations are full time encrypted," while the fire and EMS side that Berks County DES dispatches remains in the clear — Broadcastify carries a live "Berks County Emergency Services" feed described as "All Berks County Fire Dispatch / Operations & Ems channels are included," plus three other online Berks fire/EMS feeds.
Encryption Details
Berks County Context
Berks County Department of Emergency Services isn't an outlier here: 35 of the 36 public-safety agencies we track in Berks County are fully encrypted (97%), so most departments nearby have made the same move.
See every agency we track in Berks County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
This agency encrypts some of its communications while leaving others open. Which channels are affected depends on the operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Berks County Department of Emergency Services radio encrypted?
Yes — Berks County Department of Emergency Services's radio system runs on P25 AES-256 encryption. This agency encrypts some of its communications while leaving others open. Which channels are affected depends on the operation.
Can I listen to Berks County Department of Emergency Services on a police scanner?
Partially. Berks County Department of Emergency Services encrypts some of its talkgroups while leaving others open, so some channels may still be accessible. Check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.
Why did Berks County Department of Emergency Services encrypt their radio?
Departments typically point to officer safety and operational security. Neither claim tends to come with evidence specific to Berks County; what's verifiable is what's lost — journalists can't monitor state agency activity in real time, and coordination with agencies that stay unencrypted gets harder.
Can Berks County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes. Encryption is a policy choice made by department leadership or elected officials, not a technical requirement, so it can be reversed the same way. Public pressure, city council advocacy, and organized local coalitions have reversed encryption decisions elsewhere.
What can I do about Berks County Department of Emergency Services encryption?
Contact the officials who oversee Berks County Department of Emergency Services's budget directly and ask why full encryption was chosen over partial alternatives. Pair that with a FOIA request for recordings and policy records, and look for an existing coalition in Berks County, or start one, since agencies respond differently to organized, sustained pressure than to individual complaints.