Sheboygan Fire Department plans to encrypt dispatch channels, says assistant chief

The Sheboygan Fire Department plans to encrypt its primary dispatch channel and three private channels later this year or early next year, Assistant Chief told the Licensing Hearings & Public Safety Committee during an informational briefing.

"We're gonna start encrypting some of our radio channels for the fire department," the Assistant Chief said, explaining that encrypted dispatch traffic will not be live‑audible to public scanners. The department cited two goals: enhancing safety for firefighters by limiting real‑time information that could draw bystanders to scenes, and protecting citizens' privacy in sensitive incidents. "There’s still transparency involved in it. Obviously, anybody can open records, request any of our radio traffic after the fact," the Assistant Chief added.

Alder Perella asked whether encrypting dispatch frequencies would forfeit any operational advantages of publicly accessible channels; the Assistant Chief said the department maintains other frequencies for coordination with community partners and does not expect to lose operational capacity. He also said initial implementation costs were minimal because the department purchased new radios with encryption capabilities using ARPA funds. "So the cost is minimal," the Assistant Chief said, noting the radios were purchased with ARPA money through the city.

The assistant chief said the department has obtained approval from the county radio committee and the county law committee and that encryption requires reprogramming and keying of radios at stations. The briefing was informational only; no committee action was requested.