In order to monitor SAFE-T or MECA, you will need a digital scanner. That much you know. There is a lot of information about digital scanners available in the RR wiki at
Category: Digital Scanners - The RadioReference Wiki. Any of the scanners listed there will do the job.
As for which one programs easier, that's often a personal preference question. I have used a Uniden BCD396T, a Uniden BCD996T, and a GRE PSR-600. My personal opinion was that once I understood how Uniden's DMA memory structure worked, they were easy to program and have lots of flexibility. My personal opinion is that the GRE (and Radio Shack) object-oriented memory structure has limitations. Either way, these scanners are best programmed using one of the computer programs rather than trying to do it by hand (though you should know how to do it by hand just in case).
It isn't the least expensive answer to your question, but maybe a trip to Evansville would be a good idea for you. The Ham Station is located there and their staff is knowledgeable about both Uniden and GRE models. At the store, you should be able to get your hands on the various models so you can make your own decision.
