Santa Monica Police
Los Angeles, California
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
View 3 talkgroups
| DEC | Alpha Tag | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2132 | LASD LTAC SCT | L-TAC - Santa Clarita | Encrypted |
| 2133 | LASD METRO SCT | Metro - Santa Clarita Supplemental Tac | Encrypted |
| 2084 | LASD DISP 5 | Dispatch 5 - Santa Clarita | Encrypted |
Verification Status
We don't yet have per-talkgroup data for Santa Monica Police from the RadioReference API. The encryption scope and type above come from the RadioReference Wiki, which is community-maintained rather than independently confirmed channel-by-channel. Our automated matching put this at low confidence (60%) based on how closely the wiki listing matches this agency's name and county.
If you monitor Santa Monica 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.
Los Angeles County Context
Santa Monica 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
This agency is listed in our database as encrypting all of its radio communications, including routine dispatch. The listing is unverified — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Monica Police radio encrypted?
Santa Monica Police is listed in our records with P25 AES-256 encryption — a listing we haven't yet verified against live talkgroup data. This agency is listed in our database as encrypting all of its radio communications, including routine dispatch. The listing is unverified — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database.
Can I listen to Santa Monica Police on a police scanner?
Likely not, if the listing is accurate: our database lists Santa Monica Police as fully encrypted using P25 AES-256, which no consumer scanner can decode. The listing is unverified — check the live RadioReference database for current status.
Why do agencies like Santa Monica Police encrypt their radio?
Officer safety and operational security are the reasons agencies give. What rarely comes with that explanation is Los Angeles County-specific evidence that open communications ever caused a problem, while the loss of public oversight and the friction with still-unencrypted neighboring agencies are both immediate and real.
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 Santa Monica Police encryption?
Start local: show up when Los Angeles County officials discuss the budget for Santa Monica Police, and ask specifically why full encryption was chosen over a delayed feed or tactical-only approach. File a FOIA request for recordings or policy documents, and connect with others nearby who want the same information — a coordinated ask carries more weight than an individual one.