El Paso County, Colorado: Police Scanner Guide
Most police and sheriff agencies in El Paso County have gone encrypted. You can still monitor fire, EMS, weather broadcasts, and any remaining unencrypted channels.
What You Can Still Monitor in El Paso 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 El Paso County
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Agencies in El Paso County
Data from the RadioReference database and direct verification. View all Colorado agencies →
| Agency | Type | Encryption |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs Police Department | police | P25 AES-256 |
| El Paso County Department of Transportation | transit | P25 AES-256 |
| El Paso County Sheriff's Office | sheriff | P25 AES-256 |
| Fort Carson | military | P25 AES-256 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I monitor in El Paso County, Colorado?
Most police and sheriff agencies in El Paso 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 El Paso County?
Police radio in El Paso County is not fully encrypted. Most agencies use open or mixed radio systems that can be monitored with a digital scanner.
What scanner do I need for El Paso County?
For El Paso 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.