Cook County, Illinois: Police Scanner Guide
Most police and sheriff agencies in Cook County have gone encrypted. You can still monitor fire, EMS, weather broadcasts, and any remaining unencrypted channels.
What You Can Still Monitor in Cook 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 Cook County
Affiliate Some links go to Amazon and earn us a small commission. Our picks are editorial; revenue funds advocacy, not recommendations.
Agencies in Cook County
Data from the RadioReference database and direct verification. View all Illinois agencies →
| Agency | Type | Encryption |
|---|---|---|
| Art Institute of Chicago | other | DMR Enhanced Privacy |
| Chicago Police Department | police | P25 AES |
| Cicero Police | police | NXDN Scrambling |
| Cook County Sheriff/StarCom21 Node 5 | sheriff | P25 AES-256 |
| Glenview Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Hatzolah EMS | ems | MOTOTRBO |
| Harwood Heights/Norridge/Schiller Park Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| La Grange/La Grange Park/Western Springs Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Morton Grove Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Niles Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Northbrook Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| NWCD Police Dispatch 1-Elk Grove Village/Mt.Prospect/Prospect Heights | police | P25 AES-256 |
| NWCD Police Dispatch 2-Inverness/Palatine/Rolling Meadows | police | P25 AES-256 |
| NWCD Police Dispatch 3-Arlington Heights/Buffalo Grove | police | P25 AES-256 |
| NWCD Police Dispatch 4-Hoffman Estates/Streamwood | police | P25 AES-256 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I monitor in Cook County, Illinois?
Most police and sheriff agencies in Cook 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 Cook County?
Yes — 14 out of 19 agencies in Cook County use full encryption. An additional 4 use partial encryption. Fire and EMS frequently remain unencrypted.
What scanner do I need for Cook County?
For Cook 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.