Police Department Partially Encrypted

Sand City Police

Monterey, California

What you can do right now

Encryption Details

Encryption Type P25 AES-256
Scope Some talkgroups encrypted (25% per RadioReference data); others remain in the clear.
Technical Details P25 AES-256

Verified Talkgroup Data

Verified Mar 6, 2026 Low confidence
4 Total Talkgroups
1 Encrypted
3 Unencrypted
25% Encrypted
Radio System: Fisher Wireless TeamTalk, Monterey County
View 1 talkgroup
DEC Alpha Tag Description Status
361 Sand City PD IC Police Interagency Communications Encrypted

Verification Status

We do have per-talkgroup data for Sand City 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 Sand City 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

Monterey County, California runs Fisher Wireless TeamTalk / Monterey County as shared infrastructure: 1 agencies, Sand City Police included, ride the same system and inherit the same encryption status rather than each having made a separate call.

Monterey County Context

Monterey County is a mixed picture: 8 of 16 agencies we track here are fully encrypted (50%), 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 Sand City Police radio encrypted?

Our database lists Sand City 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 Sand City Police on a police scanner?

Possibly. Our database lists Sand City 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 Sand City 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 Sand City Police to know what was happening nearby.

Can Monterey County reverse the encryption decision?

Nothing technical prevents it. Sand City Police operates encrypted because someone decided it should, and decisions of that kind get revisited when councils hear sustained, organised pressure rather than isolated complaints.

What can I do about Sand City Police encryption?

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