2 of 9 Alameda County agencies are fully encrypted
9 public safety agencies in Alameda County, California have encrypted their radio communications.
Radio encryption in Alameda County
Alameda County is mostly selective encryption rather than wholesale lockout. Only Livermore and Pleasanton police are listed as encrypting all traffic; the other seven agencies — including Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont, Union City and UC Berkeley police, plus the Alameda County Sheriff — encrypt partially or reserve P25 AES-256 for tactical channels on the East Bay Regional Communications System (EBRCS). That means a resident monitoring EBRCS can still follow much of the routine picture. Seven of the nine records here are unverified and worth checking against RadioReference.
Compiled from this site's agency database. Encryption status changes without notice — confirm any specific agency on RadioReference.
Radio systems serving Alameda County
- East Bay Regional Communications System (EBRCS)
2 of 9 records here have been checked against a primary source; 7 have not.
System and talkgroup counts come from this site's agency database and change without notice — confirm current status on RadioReference.
Encryption Technology Used in Alameda County
Encrypted Agencies in Alameda County
| Agency Name | Type | Encryption | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda County Sheriff | Sheriff | P25 AES-256 | Tactical Only |
| Berkeley Police | Police | P25 AES-256 | Tactical Only |
| Fremont Police | Police | P25 AES-256 | Partially Encrypted |
| Livermore Police ✓ | Police | P25 AES-256 | Fully Encrypted |
| Newark Police | Police | P25 AES-256 | Partially Encrypted |
| Oakland Police | Police | P25 AES-256 | Partially Encrypted |
| Pleasantion Police ✓ | Police | P25 AES-256 | Fully Encrypted |
| UC Berkeley Police | Police | P25 AES-256 | Partially Encrypted |
| Union City Police | Police | P25 AES-256 | Partially Encrypted |
Related Case Studies
Learn more about police radio encryption issues in Alameda County and California.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alameda County police radio encrypted?
2 of 9 agencies in Alameda County, California are fully encrypted (22%), while 7 have partial encryption.
Can I listen to Alameda County Sheriff on a scanner?
The Alameda County Sheriff's Office has encrypted their radio communications using P25 AES-256. Scanner monitoring of sheriff operations is no longer possible.
How many police departments in Alameda County are encrypted?
8 police departments in Alameda County have implemented some level of encryption, along with 1 sheriff offices, 0 fire departments, and 0 EMS agencies.
What encryption technology does Alameda County use?
The most common encryption type in Alameda County is P25 AES-256, used by agencies for secure communications. This encryption blocks public scanner monitoring.
Fight Encryption in Alameda County
Join the movement to restore transparency to public safety communications in Alameda County, California.