Police Department Partially Encrypted

San Ramon Police

Contra Costa, California

What you can do right now

Encryption Details

Encryption Type P25 AES-256
Scope Some talkgroups encrypted (3.2% per RadioReference data); others remain in the clear.
Technical Details P25 AES-256

Verified Talkgroup Data

Verified Mar 6, 2026 Moderate confidence
31 Total Talkgroups
1 Encrypted
30 Unencrypted
3% Encrypted
Radio System: Caltrans (District 4 - South), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Fisher Wireless TeamTalk, TelePath Corporation (Connect Plus), The Radio Guys, Silke Communications FleetNet, RFC Wireless Tier 3, California Radio Interoperable System (CRIS)
View 1 talkgroup
DEC Alpha Tag Description Status
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 Ramon 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 Ramon 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

Contra Costa County, California runs Caltrans (District 4 - South) / Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory / Fisher Wireless TeamTalk / TelePath Corporation (Connect Plus) / The Radio Guys / Silke Communications FleetNet / RFC Wireless Tier 3 / California Radio Interoperable System (CRIS) as shared infrastructure: 1 agencies, San Ramon Police included, ride the same system and inherit the same encryption status rather than each having made a separate call.

Contra Costa County Context

Contra Costa 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.

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 →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Ramon Police radio encrypted?

Our database lists San Ramon 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 Ramon Police on a police scanner?

Possibly. Our database lists San Ramon 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 Ramon 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 Contra Costa 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 Contra Costa County reverse the encryption decision?

Yes — nothing about the underlying radio technology forces this. It's a decision Contra Costa 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 Ramon Police encryption?

Three things carry weight, in this order: a public-records request for San Ramon Police's encryption policy and radio recordings, a turn at the microphone during Contra Costa 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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