Jefferson County, KY police scanner: police are encrypted. Here's what you can still hear.
Last checked: 27 Oct 2026
Louisville Metro Police Department: WAVE reported in March 2022 that traditional scanners no longer pick up LMPD; its channels were further encrypted, and the public hears LMPD only through a 15-minute delayed online feed. (Scope: encrypted to scanners; 15-minute delayed online feed.) Shively Police Department: The same March 2022 WAVE report names Shively police among agencies still audible on scanners. (Scope: audible as of March 2022.) St. Matthews Police Department: The same March 2022 WAVE report names St. Matthews police among agencies still audible on scanners. (Scope: audible as of March 2022.)
Reported (news), 29 Mar 2022. Reported (news), 29 Mar 2022. Reported (news), 29 Mar 2022
Louisville Fire Department: The same March 2022 WAVE report says listeners can still hear other Jefferson County agencies, including fire and EMS. (Scope: fire channels audible as of March 2022.)
Louisville Metro EMS: The same March 2022 WAVE report says EMS channels can still be heard on scanners. (Scope: EMS channels audible as of March 2022.)
What you can still hear
- Louisville Fire Department: fire channels audible as of March 2022.
- Louisville Metro EMS: EMS channels audible as of March 2022.
- Shively Police Department: audible as of March 2022.
- St. Matthews Police Department: audible as of March 2022.
- Old analog scanner, county-wide: Mixed: some analog, some digital (FCC licenses).
- Louisville Metro Police Department (encrypted to scanners; 15-minute delayed online feed): encrypted, so no scanner hears it.
Agency by agency
Louisville Metro Police Department
Reported encryptedWhat: encrypted to scanners; 15-minute delayed online feed
Louisville Fire Department
Reported openWhat: fire channels audible as of March 2022
Louisville Metro EMS
Reported openWhat: EMS channels audible as of March 2022
Shively Police Department
Reported openWhat: audible as of March 2022
St. Matthews Police Department
Reported openWhat: audible as of March 2022
Analog or digital?
Works on an old analog scanner? Mixed: some analog, some digital. The main licensees split between analog and digital channels.
- Digital only: 33%
- Analog only: 56%
- Licensed for both: 11%
225 voice channels of the main licensees; 9 licensees with voice channels in the county. Licenses show analog or digital, never encryption. FCC ULS license file of 18 Oct 2026
Recommended scanner
Analog + digital Works on an old analog scanner? Mixed: some analog, some digital. The main licensees split between analog and digital channels. From FCC licenses, which don't show encryption.
Top pick
Uniden SDS100 (handheld)
The county's main licensed channels are a mix of analog and digital. A digital P25 Phase II scanner hears analog and P25, wherever traffic isn't encrypted. It also handles simulcast sites, which licenses don't show.
- $689.99 Amazon
- $699.99 ScannerMaster
Prices as of 19 Oct 2026
We earn a commission if you buy through these links. It doesn't change your price.
Cheaper P25 option
Whistler WS1065 (desk)
Hears P25 Phase I and II, but can struggle near simulcast sites. A good choice if you've confirmed the local system isn't simulcast.
- $351.49 Amazon
Price as of 19 Oct 2026
We earn a commission if you buy through these links. It doesn't change your price.
Analog only
Uniden BC125AT (handheld)
Hears only the analog channels, which here are part of the picture.
- $137.65 Amazon
Price as of 19 Oct 2026
We earn a commission if you buy through these links. It doesn't change your price.
What NOT to buy
- Anything sold as an “encryption decoder.” It won't play encrypted traffic.
Questions
Can I still listen to Jefferson County, KY police on a scanner?
Reported clear: Shively Police Department (audible as of March 2022); St. Matthews Police Department (audible as of March 2022). Encrypted: Louisville Metro Police Department (encrypted to scanners; 15-minute delayed online feed). Police agencies not named here haven't been checked yet.
Do I need a digital scanner in Jefferson County, KY?
Mixed: some analog, some digital. The main licensees split between analog and digital channels. Licenses show whether a channel is analog or digital, not whether it's encrypted.
Which scanner should I buy for Jefferson County, KY?
Uniden SDS100 ($689.99 at Amazon, price as of 19 Oct 2026). The county's main licensed channels are a mix of analog and digital. A digital P25 Phase II scanner hears analog and P25, wherever traffic isn't encrypted. It also handles simulcast sites, which licenses don't show.
Are fire and EMS radios encrypted in Jefferson County, KY?
Fire: Reported open. EMS: Reported open. "Not checked yet" means we haven't found an official or news source so far.
Where does this information come from?
The analog or digital answer comes from the FCC's public license file of 18 Oct 2026: the voice channels licensed to public safety agencies with transmitter sites in the county. Encryption comes from official statements and news reports, each listed under Sources with its date.