DISCLAIMER: Due to the impending encryption of fire and EMS radio communications by Northwest Central Dispatch System (NWCDS), CARDINAL NEWS may no longer be able to reliably and thoroughly provide public safety information to our readers, and cannot be held responsible for damages, injuries, or fatalities that may result from constrained public safety information. For many years, the community has depended on CARDINAL NEWS for timely and accurate updates on public safety news. However, local police chiefs, fire chiefs, and village managers have shown no willingness to cooperate with the news media as partners in maintaining transparency and engaging emergency communications.
CARDINAL NEWS has not been informed of a specific date for when encryption will be activated for fire radio talk groups, but if and when it occurs, it could involve an entire blackout of real time emergency public safety information involving the following communities and districts …
Arlington Heights
Barrington
Barrington & Countryside Fire
Buffalo Grove
Elk Grove Village
Hoffman Estates
Inverness Fire
Mount Prospect
Palatine
Rolling Meadows
Schaumburg
Streamwood
Wheeling
Initially, Northwest Central Dispatch System (NWCDS) Executive Director John Ferraro indicated that the dispatch service was hoping for a date in August 2025 to make the switch to encrypted radio talk groups for all fire and EMS communications. However, August 2025 has passed, and official progress for the Portable Radio Project involving encryption of fire radio talk groups is vague.
All radios and accessories have been distributed, and John reminded the Board that
encrypting the radios will be a complex process, particularly ensuring good
communication with non-NWCDS fire departments.— Minutes from June 19, 2025 meeting quoting NWCDS Executive Director John Ferraro
Delays in implementation may suggest potential challenges with the process.
Implementing encryption is expensive and requires substantial upgrades to existing radio systems, which is especially difficult to justify when systems are still functional, or when other text messaging systems are available for private and sensitive information. Text messaging has been available successfully at NWCDS for several years.
Public safety systems are often shared across multiple agencies (police, fire, EMS), and a full upgrade to encrypted equipment is necessary for all users to communicate effectively. Whistleblowers have told CARDINAL NEWS that neighboring fire agencies are concerned that their firefighters won’t have complete details while they are assigned to respond into fire agencies with working emergencies in the NWCDS area if the encryption compatibility issues are not 100 percent resolved. At a NWCDS board meeting, NWCDS Executive Director John Ferraro indicated that app technology on smart phones may be used when compatible encrypted radio capabilities are not available. This may be a temporary stopgap solution using the Zello App.
Encryption of fire and EMS radio communications can create significant challenges during emergencies like school shootings, mass shootings, hazardous materials disasters, major storm disasters, and other large-scale incidents.
Below is an outline detailing how encrypted fire radio communications could exacerbate these situations, focusing on the impact of reduced transparency and coordination:
1. School Shootings and Mass Shootings
Delayed Public Awareness:
Encrypted radios prevent media and the public from accessing real-time information about active shooter incidents, delaying critical updates on the situation’s status, such as suspect(s) location or lockdown instructions. Lack of real time awareness of a suspect description can actually help the suspect escape.
Communities may not receive timely warnings to shelter in place or to avoid certain areas, potentially increasing exposure to danger, violence and death.
Impaired Media Coordination:
News outlets like CARDINAL NEWS, which historically relay accurate public safety information, cannot monitor encrypted channels, reducing the ability of CARDINAL NEWS to provide real-time updates that help inform and protect the public.
Lack of media access may lead to misinformation or rumors spreading on social platforms, causing panic or confusion. Historically, ridiculous comments, often with inappropriate attempts at humor, proliferate on social media, and especially the Neighbors app by Ring where users often provide deliberately false or exaggerated information (e.g., actual historical false claims by users on Neighbors app by Ring that police activity involves a mass shooting).
Hindrance to Community Response:
Schools and nearby residents may rely on media reports for situational awareness. Encryption could delay their ability to implement safety measures, such as initiating lockdowns or evacuations.
General support personnel, such as towing companies, construction companies, excavation companies, board-up companies, and private security will be less prepared due to lack of information about incidents.
Interagency Communication Gaps:
If encryption systems are not fully interoperable across agencies (e.g., fire, police, EMS), coordination during multi-agency responses to active shooter events could be delayed, potentially slowing down life-saving interventions.
2. Hazardous Materials Disasters
Limited Public Safety Information:
Encrypted communications may prevent timely dissemination of critical information about hazardous materials incidents, such as chemical spills or gas leaks, delaying public notifications about evacuation zones or health risks.
Without media access to scanner traffic, communities may not learn about shelter-in-place orders or road closures until official statements are released, which can take time.
Reduced Situational Awareness:
First responders rely on clear communication to manage hazmat incidents. If encryption introduces technical issues (e.g., system failures or delays, as suggested by implementation challenges), it could disrupt coordination between fire, EMS, and hazmat teams.
Media’s Role in Public Safety:
Media outlets often amplify official guidance during hazmat incidents. Encryption limits their ability to monitor developing situations, reducing their capacity to relay urgent updates about evacuation routes or safety precautions.
Potential for Misinformation:
Without access to accurate, real-time information, the public may turn to unverified sources, leading to confusion about the scope of the hazard or appropriate actions to take.
3. Major Storm Disasters
Delayed Public Notifications:
During major storms (e.g., tornadoes, hurricanes, or blizzards), encrypted fire and EMS communications could delay public awareness of critical updates, such as road closures, shelter locations, or rescue operations. Communities relying on media for real-time storm-related information may face increased risks if updates are not promptly disseminated.
Impact on Rescue Operations:
Encryption-related technical issues, such as those hinted at by delays in implementation, could disrupt communication between fire departments, EMS, and other agencies during storm response, slowing down rescue efforts for trapped or injured individuals.
Reduced Community Preparedness:
Media outlets often provide storm-related safety tips based on scanner traffic (e.g., areas to avoid due to flooding or downed power lines). Encryption could limit this capability, leaving communities less prepared to respond to evolving storm conditions.
Coordination Challenges:
Large-scale storm responses require seamless coordination among multiple agencies. If encryption systems are not fully compatible or experience glitches, critical information about resource allocation or rescue priorities may be delayed. In critical situations, encryption glitches could cause fatalities by delaying life-saving measures — even in general every day routine medical emergencies.
4. Other Disasters (e.g., Earthquakes, Large-Scale Fires, Major Aircraft Crash, Terrorist Attacks)
Restricted Information Flow:
Encryption limits the ability of media and the public to monitor disaster response in real time, delaying awareness of critical developments, such as evacuation orders, safe zones, or areas of ongoing danger.
This lack of transparency could hinder community members’ ability to make informed decisions during chaotic situations.
Potential for Response Delays:
If encryption systems encounter technical issues (e.g., as indicated by reported delays in implementation), first responders may face communication breakdowns, slowing down response times during disasters where every second counts.
Erosion of Public Trust:
Lack of transparency due to encryption may lead to perceptions that officials are withholding critical information including their errors and accountability, eroding trust in public safety institutions during high-stakes events.
Media’s Role Undermined:
Media outlets traditionally serve as a bridge between first responders and the public during disasters. Encryption could sever this link, reducing the media’s ability to provide accurate updates and guidance, potentially exacerbating public panic or confusion, and potentially causing more severe injuries and deaths, and delaying healing.
5. Common Issues Across All Scenarios
Lack of Cooperation from Officials:
As noted, police chiefs, fire chiefs, and village managers have shown little willingness to partner with media outlets. This lack of cooperation exacerbates the challenges of encryption by leaving media without alternative channels for obtaining reliable information.
Uncertainty About Encryption Timeline:
The absence of a clear timeline for when encryption will be activated creates uncertainty for media and the public, making it difficult to prepare for the loss of real-time scanner access. Most of the public is not even aware of encryption because NWCDS and participating agencies are silently rolling it out.
Technical Reliability Concerns:
Delays in encryption implementation suggest potential technical or logistical issues. If these persist, they could lead to communication failures during critical incidents, further complicating response efforts.
Increased Risk of Misinformation:
Without access to official communications, the public may rely on unverified sources (e.g., social media posts), leading to misinformation that could worsen outcomes during emergencies.
Impact on Vulnerable Populations:
Vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, disabled, or non-English speakers, often rely on media for accessible, real-time information. Encryption could disproportionately affect these populations by limiting their access to timely updates.
Recommendations to Mitigate Issues
While not part of the outline, the following could help address the challenges posed by encryption:
Public Information Officers (PIOs): Authorities could designate PIOs to provide real-time updates to media during major incidents (Arlington Heights Fire Department has no public marketing program for a PIO).
Alternative Communication Channels:
Officials could establish secure, media-accessible channels for disseminating critical information without compromising operational security.
Community Preparedness Programs:
Agencies could proactively educate the public on how to access official updates during encryption, such as through apps or emergency alert systems.
Testing and Reliability:
Ensure encryption systems are thoroughly tested to avoid technical failures during disasters.
In summary, encrypted fire and EMS radio communications could exacerbate the challenges of responding to school shootings, mass shootings, hazardous materials disasters, major storms, other major disaster, and even routine emergencies by limiting public access to real-time information, hindering media’s role in public safety, and potentially introducing technical issues that disrupt first responder coordination. The lack of cooperation from officials and uncertainty about encryption implementation further compounds these risks.
The Northwest Central Dispatch System board has already shown lack of cooperation by silently attempting to implement fire radio encryption. In addition, Arlington Heights Police Chief Nicholas Pecora and Arlington Heights Fire Chief Lance Harris have failed to respond to an inquiry about fire radio talk group encryption, and have failed to offer any dialogue or engagement with CARDINAL NEWS.
Since officials have not engaged with the media, it is unknown whether encryption will be on normally and only turned off when there is an issue with the radio; or whether the encryption will normally be off, and turned on when sensitive information is communicated via a radio fire talk group.
In addition, NWCDS has never conducted a drill involving notification of the public or coordinating with the news media in the event of a major disaster.
CARDINAL NEWS remains committed to serving our community to the best of our ability under these constraints. However, CARDINAL NEWS can not be held responsible for providing accurate or timely information due to constraints by Northwest Central Dispatch System (NWCDS) and involved municipalities and fire districts.
Following are the NWCDS Board Members who voted unanimously to encrypt fire radio talk groups on Thursday, March 20, 2025 …
Randy Recklaus (Village Manager Arlington Heights) called for the motion, and Jon Sfondilis (Village Manager Wheeling) seconded the motion.
Randy Recklaus (Village Manager Arlington Heights), Chief John Christian for Scott
Anderson (Village Manager Barrington), D/C Brian Spolar for Dane Bragg (Village
Manager Buffalo Grove), Matthew Roan (Village Manager Elk Grove Village), Eric Palm (Village Manager Hoffman Estates), Sam Trakas (Village Administrator Inverness), Chief Mike Eterno for Michael Cassady (Village Manager Mount Prospect), Reid Ottesen (Village Manager Palatine), Joe Wade (City Administrator Prospect Heights), Rob Sabo (City Manager Rolling Meadows), Brian Townsend (Village Manager Schaumburg), Sharon Caddigan (Village Manager Streamwood), Jon Sfondilis (Village Manager Wheeling).
Following are the NWCDS Executive Committee Members (namely fire chiefs and police chiefs) who voted to encrypt fire radio talk groups on Thursday, March 20, 2025 (ahead of the board meeting vote). Only two fire chiefs voted against encrypting fire talk radio groups (Inverness Fire Chief Rich Kurka and Barrington Countryside Fire Chief Scott Motisi).
Nick Pecora (Arlington Heights Police Chief),Lance Harris (Arlington Heights Fire Chief), Dave Daigle (Barrington Police Chief), John Christian (Barrington Fire Chief), D/C Brian Spolar for Brian Budds (Buffalo Grove Police Chief), Dave Dorn (Elk Grove Police Chief), Richard Mikel (Elk Grove Fire Chief), Kasia Cawley (Hoffman Estates Police Chief), Alan Wax (Hoffman Estates Fire Chief), Kyle Ingebrigtsen (Inverness Police Chief), Mike Eterno (Mount Prospect Police Chief), John Dolan, (Mount Prospect Fire Chief), Bill Nord (Palatine Police Chief), Pat Gratzianna (Palatine Fire Chief), Milo Derman (Prospect Heights Police Chief), John Nowacki (Rolling Meadows Police Chief), Pete Sutter (Rolling Meadows Fire Chief), Bill Wolf (Schaumburg Police Chief), Jim Walters (Schaumburg Fire Chief), Shawn Taylor (Streamwood Police Chief), Mike Meyer (Streamwood Fire Chief), D/C Al Steffen for Jamie Dunne (Wheeling Police Chief), Scott Salela (Wheeling Fire Chief).
See also …
