Oakland County, Michigan: Police Scanner Guide
Most police and sheriff agencies in Oakland County have gone encrypted. You can still monitor fire, EMS, weather broadcasts, and any remaining unencrypted channels.
What You Can Still Monitor in Oakland 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 Oakland County
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Agencies in Oakland County
Data from the RadioReference database and direct verification. View all Michigan agencies →
| Agency | Type | Encryption |
|---|---|---|
| Berkeley Police Department | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Beverly Hills Police Department | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Bloomfield Hills Police Department | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Clawson Police Department | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Farmington Police Department | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Farmington Hills Police Department | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Ferndale Police Department | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Hatzalah EMS | ems | MOTOTRBO |
| Hazel Park Police Department | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Huntington Park Police Department | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Lake Orion Police Department | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Madison Heights Police Department | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Novi Police Department | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Oakland County Emergency Management | sheriff | P25 AES-256 |
| Oakland County Sheriff's Office | sheriff | P25 AES-256 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I monitor in Oakland County, Michigan?
Most police and sheriff agencies in Oakland 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 Oakland County?
Yes — 9 out of 18 agencies in Oakland County use full encryption. An additional 8 use partial encryption. Fire and EMS frequently remain unencrypted.
What scanner do I need for Oakland County?
For Oakland 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.