Riverside County, California: Police Scanner Guide
Most police and sheriff agencies in Riverside County have gone encrypted. You can still monitor fire, EMS, weather broadcasts, and any remaining unencrypted channels.
What You Can Still Monitor in Riverside County
- Fire dispatch — most fire departments stay on open radio even when police go encrypted
- EMS / ambulance dispatch — emergency medical services often remain unencrypted for interoperability
- NOAA Weather Radio — direct NWS broadcasts on 162.400–162.550 MHz
- Public works & utilities — city maintenance, road crews, and utilities typically unencrypted
Recommended Scanners for Riverside County
Affiliate Some links go to Amazon and earn us a small commission. Our picks are editorial; revenue funds advocacy, not recommendations.
Agencies in Riverside County
Data from the RadioReference database and direct verification. View all California agencies →
| Agency | Type | Encryption |
|---|---|---|
| Banning Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Beaumont Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Cathedral City Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Corona Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Desert Hot Springs Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Indio Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Menifee Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Murrieta Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Palm Springs Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Riverside Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Riverside County Sheriff | sheriff | P25 AES-256 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I monitor in Riverside County, California?
Most police and sheriff agencies in Riverside County have gone encrypted. You can still monitor fire, EMS, weather broadcasts, and any remaining unencrypted channels. Check the local fire and EMS frequencies which often remain unencrypted even when police go encrypted.
Is police radio encrypted in Riverside County?
Yes — 9 out of 11 agencies in Riverside County use full encryption. An additional 1 use partial encryption. Fire and EMS frequently remain unencrypted.
What scanner do I need for Riverside County?
For Riverside County, we recommend a scanner that covers VHF and UHF frequencies for fire, EMS, and weather — the Uniden BC125AT is the best value. For broader exploration, the RTL-SDR V4 with free SDRTrunk software can scan the full spectrum.