Newark Police
Alameda, California
How we verified this
RR EBRCS page (viewed 2026-08-01) marks NPD 1 Police Dispatch, TAC 3 and TAC 4 with the Full encryption flag while NPD 2, TAC 5, TAC 6 and Police Announcement are clear, so the listed scope 'all' overstates it; an online Broadcastify feed (feed 45054, 'Newark PD1') carries the dispatch audio, apparently an official stream.
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
Encryption here is a mixed bag: some talkgroups are locked, others aren't. It varies by channel and by what the department is doing at the time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Newark Police radio encrypted?
Yes. Newark Police uses P25 AES-256 encryption. Encryption here is a mixed bag: some talkgroups are locked, others aren't. It varies by channel and by what the department is doing at the time.
Can I listen to Newark Police on a police scanner?
Partially. Newark 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 Newark Police encrypt their radio?
The reasons offered are almost always the same two: officer safety and operational security. Whether either was tested against a real Alameda County incident is rarely part of the public record, whereas the consequences are easy to observe — no real-time accountability, and neighbouring agencies still in the clear left working around the gap.
Can Alameda County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes — nothing about the underlying radio technology forces this. It's a decision Alameda County officials made and can revisit, and other communities have pushed departments back toward open channels through sustained council pressure and coalition-building.
What can I do about Newark Police encryption?
Put the question to whoever signs off on Newark Police's radio budget: why full encryption rather than a delayed feed or tactical-only channels? File for the recordings and the decision documents alongside it, and link up with neighbours and local reporters in Alameda County so the ask arrives as a group rather than a one-off.