Montebello Police
Los Angeles, California
How we verified this
RR DB shows MTB PD DISP dispatch, TAC1, TAC2, SPOPS, and TRAIN clear while TAC3, TAC4, INV, DET, and SRT are flagged Enc on ICI — partial encryption roughly consistent with the listed special-operations scope, though the 'Special Ops' talkgroup itself is unflagged.
Encryption Details
Los Angeles County Context
Montebello 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.
See every agency we track in Los Angeles County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
This agency encrypts some of its communications while leaving others open. Which channels are affected depends on the operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montebello Police radio encrypted?
Yes — Montebello Police's radio system runs on P25 AES-256 encryption. This agency encrypts some of its communications while leaving others open. Which channels are affected depends on the operation.
Can I listen to Montebello Police on a police scanner?
Partially. Montebello 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 Montebello Police encrypt their radio?
Officer safety and operational security are the reasons agencies give. What rarely comes with that explanation is Los Angeles 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 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 Montebello Police encryption?
Start local: show up when Los Angeles County officials discuss the budget for Montebello 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.