I've got a 100 channel Bearcat (Uniden) hand-held scanner. It's got side bands. (80 band up to 900 band) It's also got the weather band..
Uniden - Products - Scanners
Radio Shack makes decent scanners.
I don't know about your grandfather's local PD, Fire etc.. but scanners here are just about obsolete. Our Police and Fire dept have that new (whatever it's called) system. They no longer put out a frequency. Scanners can't pick them up anymore. The sheriff's dept still has the old system, so I can still hear them, as well as the surrounding counties. I sure miss hearing what all goes on in our city.