Lake County, Illinois: Police Scanner Guide
Most police and sheriff agencies in Lake County have gone encrypted. You can still monitor fire, EMS, weather broadcasts, and any remaining unencrypted channels.
What You Can Still Monitor in Lake 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 Lake County
Affiliate Some links go to Amazon and earn us a small commission. Our picks are editorial; revenue funds advocacy, not recommendations.
Agencies in Lake County
Data from the RadioReference database and direct verification. View all Illinois agencies →
| Agency | Type | Encryption |
|---|---|---|
| Antioch Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Bannockburn Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Barrington Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Deerfield Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| East Shore Law Enforcement | other | P25 AES-256 |
| Grayslake | other | P25 AES-256 |
| Gurnee Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Fox Lake Police/Foxcomm | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Hawthorn Woods Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Highland Park Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Highwood Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Island Lake Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Lake Bluff Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Lake County Fire | fire | P25 AES-256 |
| Lake County Sheriff | sheriff | P25 AES-256 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I monitor in Lake County, Illinois?
Most police and sheriff agencies in Lake 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 Lake County?
Yes — 10 out of 30 agencies in Lake County use full encryption. An additional 19 use partial encryption. Fire and EMS frequently remain unencrypted.
What scanner do I need for Lake County?
For Lake 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.