Johnston County Sheriff's Office
Johnston, North Carolina
How we verified this
As of August 2026 an active Broadcastify feed of Johnston County's P25 system (25 listeners, online 29 days) carries "SO Dispatch" along with the Clayton, Smithfield, Selma and Benson police channels in the clear; the claimed encrypted narcotics and TAC 1 talkgroups are not confirmed by any primary source we fetched.
Encryption Details
Johnston County Context
Johnston County is a mixed picture: 1 of 2 agencies we track here are fully encrypted (50%), which means some neighboring departments are still audible on a scanner.
See every agency we track in Johnston County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
This agency was previously listed as encrypted, but verification against live sources on 2026-08-09 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 Johnston County Sheriff's Office radio encrypted?
No. Despite earlier listings, Johnston County Sheriff's Office broadcasts in the clear. This agency was previously listed as encrypted, but verification against live sources on 2026-08-09 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 Johnston County Sheriff's Office on a police scanner?
Yes. Verification against live sources found Johnston 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 Johnston County Sheriff's Office encrypt their radio?
Ask why, and the answer is usually officer safety, sometimes operational security. What is harder to obtain is any documented case in Johnston County where an open channel caused harm. The costs need no such documentation: reporting on sheriff's office response slows down, and mutual-aid coordination gets more awkward, immediately.
Can Johnston County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes, and some departments already have. Because encryption here is a choice rather than a technical necessity, the path back runs through the same people who chose it: budget hearings, records requests, and residents who keep asking in public.
What can I do about Johnston County Sheriff's Office encryption?
Contact the officials who oversee Johnston County Sheriff's Office'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 Johnston County, or start one, since agencies respond differently to organized, sustained pressure than to individual complaints.