Pasadena Police
Los Angeles, California
How we verified this
RR ICI system page (viewed 2026-08-01) flags every PAS PD talkgroup (dispatch, inquiries, records, traffic, SWAT, detectives, etc.) as fully encrypted; the only clear police-related talkgroups are 'Police Outside Agency Access' and a 'Police Media Dispatch Broadcast' channel.
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
Los Angeles County Context
Pasadena 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
There is no partial access here: routine dispatch is encrypted alongside everything else, so a scanner picks up nothing from this agency at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pasadena Police radio encrypted?
Yes — Pasadena Police's radio system runs on P25 DES-OFB encryption. There is no partial access here: routine dispatch is encrypted alongside everything else, so a scanner picks up nothing from this agency at all.
Can I listen to Pasadena Police on a police scanner?
No. Pasadena Police has fully encrypted their radio communications using P25 DES-OFB. No consumer scanner can decode encrypted transmissions.
Why did Pasadena Police encrypt their radio?
Ask why, and the answer is usually officer safety, sometimes operational security. What is harder to obtain is any documented case in Los Angeles County where an open channel caused harm. The costs need no such documentation: reporting on police department response slows down, and mutual-aid coordination gets more awkward, immediately.
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 Pasadena Police encryption?
Contact the officials who oversee Pasadena 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 Los Angeles County, or start one, since agencies respond differently to organized, sustained pressure than to individual complaints.