Clark County Sheriff's Office
Clark, Illinois
How we verified this
RR Clark County IL DB page shows sheriff dispatch on STARCOM21 TG 8301 (shared, noted as of 5/25) and VHF frequencies including a Sheriff Tac at 159.210 with no encryption flags, plus an explicit 'No encryption on NXDN' note — the claimed encrypted Sheriff TAC talkgroup is unsupported.
Encryption Details
What This Means
This agency was previously listed as encrypted, but verification against live sources on 2026-08-01 found its dispatch broadcasting in the clear. Any P25-capable scanner can receive it — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database, since encryption decisions can change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Clark County Sheriff's Office radio encrypted?
No. Despite earlier listings, Clark County Sheriff's Office broadcasts in the clear. This agency was previously listed as encrypted, but verification against live sources on 2026-08-01 found its dispatch broadcasting in the clear. Any P25-capable scanner can receive it — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database, since encryption decisions can change.
Can I listen to Clark County Sheriff's Office on a police scanner?
Yes. Verification against live sources found Clark County Sheriff's Office's dispatch broadcasting in the clear — any P25-capable scanner can receive it. Check RadioReference for frequencies and current status.
Why do agencies like Clark County Sheriff's Office encrypt their radio?
Officer safety and operational security are the reasons agencies give. What rarely comes with that explanation is Clark County-specific evidence that open communications ever caused a problem, while the loss of public oversight and the friction with still-unencrypted neighboring agencies are both immediate and real.
Can Clark 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 Clark County Sheriff's Office encryption?
Start local: show up when Clark County officials discuss the budget for Clark County Sheriff's Office, and ask specifically why full encryption was chosen over a delayed feed or tactical-only approach. File a FOIA request for recordings or policy documents, and connect with others nearby who want the same information — a coordinated ask carries more weight than an individual one.