Police Department Fully Encrypted

Arcadia Police

Los Angeles, California

What you can do right now

Encryption Details

Encryption Type P25 DES-OFB
Scope All Operations
Technical Details P25 DES-OFB

Verified Talkgroup Data

Verified Mar 6, 2026 Moderate confidence
16 Total Talkgroups
6 Encrypted
10 Unencrypted
38% Encrypted
Radio System: United States Department of Defense (14C), Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), Los Angeles City (STRS - Simulcast Trunked Radio System) Project 25, Los Angeles Countywide Integrated Radio System (CWIRS)
View 6 talkgroups
DEC Alpha Tag Description Status
27161 OCNAPD 1 Police Dispatch (Patched to JEB West Sec 1) Encrypted
27162 OCNAPD 2 Police Tac 2 Encrypted
27163 OCNAPD 3 Police Tac 3 Encrypted
27165 OCNAPD 5 Police Tac 5 Encrypted
107 APD 7 Airport Police Tac-7 (Encrypted) Encrypted
108 APD 8 Airport Police Tac-8 (Encrypted) Encrypted

Verification Status

We don't yet have per-talkgroup data for Arcadia Police from the RadioReference API. The encryption scope and type above come from the RadioReference Wiki, which is community-maintained rather than independently confirmed channel-by-channel. Our automated matching put this at moderate confidence (70%) based on how closely the wiki listing matches this agency's name and county.

If you monitor Arcadia Police directly or have more current information, the fastest way to fix this is to update the RadioReference Wiki entry — our data pulls from there and from the RadioReference API on a regular refresh cycle.

Los Angeles County Context

Arcadia Police isn't an outlier here: 39 of the 46 public-safety agencies we track in Los Angeles County are fully encrypted (85%), so most departments nearby have made the same move.

What This Means

This agency is listed in our database as encrypting all of its radio communications, including routine dispatch. The listing is unverified — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database.

See encryption status nationwide Interactive map showing which US police departments have encrypted their radios. Open the encryption map →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Arcadia Police radio encrypted?

Arcadia Police is listed in our records with P25 DES-OFB encryption — a listing we haven't yet verified against live talkgroup data. This agency is listed in our database as encrypting all of its radio communications, including routine dispatch. The listing is unverified — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database.

Can I listen to Arcadia Police on a police scanner?

Likely not, if the listing is accurate: our database lists Arcadia Police as fully encrypted using P25 DES-OFB, which no consumer scanner can decode. The listing is unverified — check the live RadioReference database for current status.

Why do agencies like Arcadia Police encrypt their radio?

Departments typically point to officer safety and operational security. Neither claim tends to come with evidence specific to Los Angeles County; what's verifiable is what's lost — journalists can't monitor police department activity in real time, and coordination with agencies that stay unencrypted gets harder.

Can Los Angeles County reverse the encryption decision?

Yes. Encryption is a policy choice made by department leadership or elected officials, not a technical requirement, so it can be reversed the same way. Public pressure, city council advocacy, and organized local coalitions have reversed encryption decisions elsewhere.

What can I do about Arcadia Police encryption?

Start local: show up when Los Angeles County officials discuss the budget for Arcadia Police, and ask specifically why full encryption was chosen over a delayed feed or tactical-only approach. File a FOIA request for recordings or policy documents, and connect with others nearby who want the same information — a coordinated ask carries more weight than an individual one.

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