Fremont Police
Alameda, California
How we verified this
RadioReference EBRCS page shows FPD 1, SWAT, INV1, SCU and task force talkgroups encrypted while FPD 2, FPD 3, EXPL and JAIL are clear, matching the channel-specific description but contradicting the listed 'all' scope.
Encryption Details
Alameda County Context
Alameda County is a mixed picture: 2 of 9 agencies we track here are fully encrypted (22%), which means some neighboring departments are still audible on a scanner.
See every agency we track in Alameda County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
Coverage here is uneven — parts of the system are locked and parts are open, so a scanner gives you an incomplete rather than an empty picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fremont Police radio encrypted?
Yes — Fremont Police's radio system runs on P25 AES-256 encryption. Coverage here is uneven — parts of the system are locked and parts are open, so a scanner gives you an incomplete rather than an empty picture.
Can I listen to Fremont Police on a police scanner?
Partially. Fremont Police encrypts some of its talkgroups while leaving others open, so some channels may still be accessible. Check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.
Why did Fremont Police encrypt their radio?
Officer safety and operational security are the reasons agencies give. What rarely comes with that explanation is Alameda County-specific evidence that open communications ever caused a problem, while the loss of public oversight and the friction with still-unencrypted neighboring agencies are both immediate and real.
Can Alameda County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes, and some departments already have. Because encryption here is a choice rather than a technical necessity, the path back runs through the same people who chose it: budget hearings, records requests, and residents who keep asking in public.
What can I do about Fremont Police encryption?
Contact the officials who oversee Fremont Police's budget directly and ask why full encryption was chosen over partial alternatives. Pair that with a FOIA request for recordings and policy records, and look for an existing coalition in Alameda County, or start one, since agencies respond differently to organized, sustained pressure than to individual complaints.