03/25/2026
INDIANA PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS
TRANSITION TO STRENGTHEN EMERGENCY
COORDINATION
Indiana Secretary of Public Safety Anthony Scott today announced that, pursuant to House Bill 1003,
the Integrated Public Safety Commission (IPSC) will transition to become a division within the Indiana
Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) effective July 1, 2026.
The transition will establish the Office of Emergency Communications within IDHS, ensuring continued
coordination and advancement of Indiana’s statewide public safety communications systems that serve
first responders and emergency management agencies across the state.
Indiana’s first responders rely on strong, dependable communications every day. This transition
strengthens coordination within the state’s public safety structure while preserving the mission and
service that public safety agencies have come to depend on. Our commitment to the police officers,
firefighters, EMS professionals, and emergency managers who protect our communities will not
change.
The new Office of Emergency Communications will continue to oversee statewide interoperable
communications initiatives, including land mobile radio systems, public safety communications
infrastructure, First Net and coordination with local, state, and federal partners.
To ensure continuity and stability during the transition, the current IPSC Executive Director Michael
Watkins will continue to lead the organization, serving as Director of the newly formed Office of
Emergency Communications within IDHS.
Public safety agencies should expect no disruption in service, support, or operational coordination as
the transition occurs. The same staff, technical expertise, and commitment to statewide interoperability
will remain in place.
Additional information and updates regarding the transition will be shared with public safety partners in
the coming months as implementation progresses.
This change is intended to further integrate emergency communications into the state’s broader
emergency management framework while maintaining the trusted relationships IPSC has built with
agencies across Indiana.
