Know County Sheriff
Knox, Ohio
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference lists Knox County Sheriff dispatch and tactical talkgroups (and Mount Vernon Police dispatch) on Ohio MARCS-IP as encrypted, while county fire and EMS talkgroups remain in the clear.
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
What This Means
All traffic, including the day-to-day dispatch that used to be the public's window into police activity, now runs encrypted. Nothing from this department is receivable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Know County Sheriff radio encrypted?
Yes — Know County Sheriff's radio system runs on P25 AES-256 encryption. All traffic, including the day-to-day dispatch that used to be the public's window into police activity, now runs encrypted. Nothing from this department is receivable.
Can I listen to Know County Sheriff on a police scanner?
No. Know County Sheriff has fully encrypted their radio communications using P25 AES-256. No consumer scanner can decode encrypted transmissions.
Why did Know County Sheriff encrypt their radio?
Departments typically point to officer safety and operational security. Neither claim tends to come with evidence specific to Knox County; what's verifiable is what's lost — journalists can't monitor sheriff's office activity in real time, and coordination with agencies that stay unencrypted gets harder.
Can Knox 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 Know County Sheriff encryption?
Ask for the paperwork first — the policy that authorised encryption for Know County Sheriff, and the recordings themselves — because a specific request is harder to wave away than a general complaint. Then take what you learn to a council meeting, and bring others from Knox County with you.