Police Department Partially Encrypted

San Fernando Police

Los Angeles, California

What you can do right now

My city went dark — now what? Step-by-step guide for residents of newly encrypted areas. What you can still monitor Fire, EMS, and surrounding-jurisdiction channels often remain open. Request the recordings FOIA templates for San Fernando Police radio archives. Reverse the decision Tactics from cities that successfully reversed police encryption.

Encryption Details

Encryption Type P25 AES-256
Scope Some talkgroups encrypted (6.8% per RadioReference data); others remain in the clear.
Technical Details P25 AES-256

Verified Talkgroup Data

Verified Mar 6, 2026 Moderate confidence
147 Total Talkgroups
10 Encrypted
137 Unencrypted
7% Encrypted
Radio System: Nextel (Santiago), National Science and Technology Network (Sierra Peak 1), Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority - 900Mhz, National Science and Technology Network (Santiago Peak), Nextel (WIL681 2), Shell (Carson), Mobile Relay Associates (Sunset Ridge), Mobile Relay Associates (Mount Lukens), United States Department of Defense (14C), National Science and Technology Network (Mount Lukens 1), National Science and Technology Network (Los Angeles), MS Airwaves, Mobile Relay Associates (Mount Wilson), National Science and Technology Network (Sunset Peak), National Science and Technology Network (Mount Lukens 2), Touch Tel Mobile (Los Angeles), National Science and Technology Network (Mt. Lukens, Oat, Sierra), Anderson Communications (Mount Lukens), Touch Tel Mobile (217 Mhz Santiago Peak), Touch Tel Mobile (217 MHz LA Basin), Comm Enterprises (Oat Mountain), BearCom Group (Mt. Wilson), National Science and Technology Network (Oat Mountain), Acumen Communication (Oat Mountain/Hollywood), Fisher Wireless TeamTalk, Los Angeles City (STRS - Simulcast Trunked Radio System) Project 25, Alliance Communications Group (Lukens), Mobile Relay Associates (Santiago Peak 2), TelePath Corporation (Connect Plus), Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System (LA-RICS), Los Angeles Countywide Integrated Radio System (CWIRS), Caltrans (District 7/8/12), Southern California Edison, Air Communication Services Inc. (Mt. Lukens), Mobile Relay Associates Diga-Talk Network, Communications Innovations (NXDN), Apple, Ramirez Electronics (Lukens), California Radio Interoperable System (CRIS)
View 10 talkgroups
DEC Alpha Tag Description Status
2132 LASD LTAC SCT L-TAC - Santa Clarita Encrypted
2138 LASD LTAC SDM L-TAC - San Dimas Encrypted
2139 LASD METRO SDM Metro - San Dimas Supplemental Tac Encrypted
2133 LASD METRO SCT Metro - Santa Clarita Supplemental Tac Encrypted
2140 LASD DB SDM Detectives - San Dimas Encrypted
2042 LASD SAR SND Search and Rescue - San Dimas Encrypted
2084 LASD DISP 5 Dispatch 5 - Santa Clarita Encrypted
2085 LASD DISP 6 Dispatch 6 - San Dimas / Walnut Encrypted
305 Apple SD 305 Enc San Diego (Encrypted) Encrypted
783 VA White Valley White - Stockton (62) / Tracy (103) / Amador (94) / San Andreas (49) Encrypted

Verification Status

We do have per-talkgroup data for San Fernando Police from the RadioReference API, and used it to set the encryption scope shown above — but no additional human-reviewed source (a live feed check or a dated news account) has been recorded for this record, so treat it as a data-quality correction rather than an independently confirmed verification. Check the live RadioReference database directly for current status.

If you monitor San Fernando 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.

Shared Radio System

Los Angeles County, California runs Nextel (Santiago) / National Science and Technology Network (Sierra Peak 1) / Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority - 900Mhz / National Science and Technology Network (Santiago Peak) / Nextel (WIL681 2) / Shell (Carson) / Mobile Relay Associates (Sunset Ridge) / Mobile Relay Associates (Mount Lukens) / United States Department of Defense (14C) / National Science and Technology Network (Mount Lukens 1) / National Science and Technology Network (Los Angeles) / MS Airwaves / Mobile Relay Associates (Mount Wilson) / National Science and Technology Network (Sunset Peak) / National Science and Technology Network (Mount Lukens 2) / Touch Tel Mobile (Los Angeles) / National Science and Technology Network (Mt. Lukens, Oat, Sierra) / Anderson Communications (Mount Lukens) / Touch Tel Mobile (217 Mhz Santiago Peak) / Touch Tel Mobile (217 MHz LA Basin) / Comm Enterprises (Oat Mountain) / BearCom Group (Mt. Wilson) / National Science and Technology Network (Oat Mountain) / Acumen Communication (Oat Mountain/Hollywood) / Fisher Wireless TeamTalk / Los Angeles City (STRS - Simulcast Trunked Radio System) Project 25 / Alliance Communications Group (Lukens) / Mobile Relay Associates (Santiago Peak 2) / TelePath Corporation (Connect Plus) / Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System (LA-RICS) / Los Angeles Countywide Integrated Radio System (CWIRS) / Caltrans (District 7/8/12) / Southern California Edison / Air Communication Services Inc. (Mt. Lukens) / Mobile Relay Associates Diga-Talk Network / Communications Innovations (NXDN) / Apple / Ramirez Electronics (Lukens) / California Radio Interoperable System (CRIS) as shared infrastructure: 2 agencies, San Fernando Police included, ride the same system and inherit the same encryption status rather than each having made a separate call.

Los Angeles County Context

Los Angeles County is a mixed picture: 22 of 46 agencies we track here are fully encrypted (48%), which means some neighboring departments are still audible on a scanner.

See every agency we track in Los Angeles County → County encryption overview →

What This Means

Our records list a mix here: some talkgroups encrypted, others not. The listing is unverified, so confirm what is audible at RadioReference.

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

Other Agencies in Los Angeles

Arcadia Police
P25 DES-OFB
Azusa Police
P25 DES-OFB
Baldwin Park Police
P25 DES-OFB
Bell Police
P25 DES-OFB
Bell Gardens Police
P25 DES-OFB

Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Fernando Police radio encrypted?

Our database lists San Fernando Police as using P25 AES-256 encryption, though this listing is unverified. Our records list a mix here: some talkgroups encrypted, others not. The listing is unverified, so confirm what is audible at RadioReference.

Can I listen to San Fernando Police on a police scanner?

Possibly. Our database lists San Fernando Police as encrypting some of its talkgroups while leaving others open, which would leave some channels accessible. The listing is unverified — check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.

Why do agencies like San Fernando Police encrypt their radio?

Agencies cite officer safety and operational security. Those are assertions rather than findings — no local evidence is typically produced — while the effects are concrete and land straight away on anyone who relied on hearing San Fernando Police to know what was happening nearby.

Can Los Angeles County reverse the encryption decision?

Yes — nothing about the underlying radio technology forces this. It's a decision Los Angeles 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 San Fernando Police encryption?

Three things carry weight, in this order: a public-records request for San Fernando Police's encryption policy and radio recordings, a turn at the microphone during Los Angeles County budget discussions, and finding the other people locally already asking the same question. Individually these are easy to deflect; together they are not.

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