Washington County, Tennessee: Police Scanner Guide
Most police and sheriff agencies in Washington County have gone encrypted. You can still monitor fire, EMS, weather broadcasts, and any remaining unencrypted channels.
What You Can Still Monitor in Washington 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 Washington County
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Agencies in Washington County
Data from the RadioReference database and direct verification. View all Tennessee agencies →
| Agency | Type | Encryption |
|---|---|---|
| City of Brentwood Police Department | police | P25 AES-256 |
| City of Johnson City Police Department | police | P25 ADP |
| City of Johnson City Transit Authority | transit | P25 AES-256 |
| City of Jonesborough Police Department | police | P25 AES-256 |
| City of Mount Juliet Administration | other | P25 ADP |
| City of Mount Juliet Fire Department | fire | P25 ADP |
| City of Mount Juliet Police Department | police | P25 ADP |
| Washington County Sheriff's Office | sheriff | P25 ADP |
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I monitor in Washington County, Tennessee?
Most police and sheriff agencies in Washington 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 Washington County?
Yes — 4 out of 8 agencies in Washington County use full encryption. An additional 2 use partial encryption. Fire and EMS frequently remain unencrypted.
What scanner do I need for Washington County?
For Washington 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.