Spokane County, Washington: Police Scanner Guide
Most police and sheriff agencies in Spokane County have gone encrypted. You can still monitor fire, EMS, weather broadcasts, and any remaining unencrypted channels.
What You Can Still Monitor in Spokane 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 Spokane County
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Agencies in Spokane County
Data from the RadioReference database and direct verification. View all Washington agencies →
| Agency | Type | Encryption |
|---|---|---|
| ESU Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Spokane County Sheriff | sheriff | P25 AES-256 |
| Spokane International Airport | airport | P25 AES-256 |
| Spokane Police | police | P25 AES-256 |
| Spokane Regional Law Enforcement | other | P25 AES-256 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I monitor in Spokane County, Washington?
Most police and sheriff agencies in Spokane 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 Spokane County?
Police radio in Spokane 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 Spokane County?
For Spokane 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.