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5 Critical Facts You Need To Know About The Spokane City Police Scanner In 2025

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For decades, the police scanner has served as the unofficial lifeline between the public and emergency services, offering a raw, real-time look into the day-to-day operations of law enforcement. As of December 2025, listening to the Spokane City Police Department (SPD) is still possible, but the landscape is continually shifting due to technological upgrades and ongoing discussions about encryption. The Spokane Regional Emergency Communications System (SREC) is the backbone of all emergency communications in the area, and understanding its digital nature is the key to tuning in.

The transition from old-school analog radio to a modern digital system has complicated public access, yet the primary dispatch channels for the SPD remain largely open. However, recent developments, including major changes to regional dispatch agreements and persistent rumors of full encryption, mean that the way you listen to police activity in Spokane is more precarious than ever. Here are the five most critical facts you need to know right now.

The Spokane Police System: P25 Digital and SREC Talkgroups

The days of simply tuning a basic analog radio to a single frequency are long gone in the Spokane area. The Spokane City Police Department operates on the sophisticated Spokane Regional Emergency Communications System (SREC). This is a state-of-the-art P25 (Project 25) Trunked Radio System, which is the national standard for digital public safety communication.

  • What is P25 Trunking? Unlike traditional systems, P25 trunking automatically assigns available frequencies (channels) to users (police officers, fire crews, etc.) as needed. This makes communication more efficient but requires a specialized digital police scanner (like a Uniden SDS series) to follow the conversations, as opposed to a simple analog model.
  • Key Entities: The SREC system is used by numerous agencies, including the Spokane Police Department (SPD), Spokane County Sheriff's Office (SCSO), and until recently, the Spokane Fire Department (SFD).
  • Talkgroups: Instead of frequencies, listeners follow "talkgroups." The primary SPD dispatch channels you’ll want to monitor are typically labeled as "SPD North" and "SPD South" Talkgroups on the SREC system.

Fact #1: Dispatch Channels Are Still Open (But Encryption is a Constant Threat)

The most pressing question for any scanner enthusiast is always about encryption. As of late 2025, the good news is that the main dispatch channels for the Spokane Police Department and the Spokane County Sheriff's Office are generally open and unencrypted. This means you can hear the initial calls for service, the heart of the action.

However, the threat of full encryption is real and ongoing. SPD leaders have previously considered transitioning to a fully encrypted radio system for all calls for service. If this were to happen, the public and media would be completely cut off from real-time police communications, hearing only digital noise instead of transmissions.

Why the Debate?

  • Pro-Encryption Argument: Police agencies argue that encryption protects sensitive personal information (like names, addresses, and medical details) of victims and witnesses, and prevents criminals from monitoring police movements.
  • Pro-Access Argument: News organizations and transparency advocates argue that open radio traffic is vital for holding law enforcement accountable, providing timely public safety information, and ensuring the media can accurately report on breaking events.

Fact #2: The Easiest Way to Listen is Through Online Feeds

For most people, the most convenient and cost-effective method to listen to the Spokane City Police scanner is not by buying an expensive P25 digital scanner, but by streaming the audio online.

Platforms like Broadcastify host live audio feeds for the Spokane area. These feeds are provided by dedicated volunteers who own the necessary digital scanning equipment and stream the audio to the internet. You can typically find feeds covering:

  • Spokane City Police (SPD North and South Talkgroups)
  • Spokane County Sheriff and Fire
  • Washington State Patrol (WSP)
  • Spokane Valley Fire Department

A Note on Delay: Online feeds introduce a small delay, typically ranging from 30 seconds to a couple of minutes. This means the audio you hear is not truly "real-time," but it is the closest and most accessible option for the general public.

Fact #3: A Major Dispatch Split is Happening in 2026

A significant change is on the horizon for Spokane's emergency communications. In a major regional shakeup, the Spokane Fire Department (SFD) is slated to be removed from the SREC regional dispatcher by January 1, 2026. Instead, the SFD will join the Spokane Police Department's dispatch system.

This separation is a major development that could impact how both police and fire calls are handled and monitored. While the full ramifications for scanner listeners are yet to be seen, it highlights the complex financial and operational pressures on the SREC system, which has faced cost-of-service estimates and rate challenges in 2024.

Fact #4: You Need a Specific Digital Scanner for Direct Monitoring

If you prefer to listen directly to the radio waves without relying on an internet feed, you must invest in a P25-compatible digital trunking scanner. Older analog scanners simply will not work on the SREC system.

Recommended Digital Scanner Features:

  • P25 Phase I and Phase II Compatibility: Essential for decoding the SREC system.
  • Trunk Tracking: The ability to follow conversations as they jump between different frequencies (channels) on the trunked system.
  • Simulcast Compatibility: Because the SREC system uses multiple towers broadcasting the same signal (simulcast), a scanner with excellent performance in this environment, such as the Uniden SDS series, is often recommended by hobbyists.
  • Programming: You will need to program the system's control channels and talkgroup IDs, which are often available on specialized radio reference websites.

Fact #5: The SPD is Looking at New Communication Methods

Beyond the radio system, the Spokane Police Department is actively exploring new communication tools to engage with the public. One example is the approval of the "My90" system purchase. This type of technology is aimed at improving communication and information sharing with the community following police responses to crimes, offering a more controlled and curated flow of information than the real-time, unfiltered radio scanner.

For the public, this means that while the scanner provides the immediate, unfiltered view of an incident, official channels like the SPD's website, social media, and new platforms like My90 will be the primary source for verified news, crime statistics, and follow-up information. The scanner remains a tool for curiosity and real-time awareness, but it is increasingly complemented—and potentially challenged—by official digital communication strategies.

5 Critical Facts You Need to Know About the Spokane City Police Scanner in 2025
spokane city police scanner
spokane city police scanner

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