Union City Police
Alameda, California
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference lists Union City Police channels 3 and 4 plus the Investigations and SWAT talkgroups on EBRCS as encrypted, while the department's Channel 2, Police Wide and mutual-aid talkgroups are listed unencrypted.
Encryption Details
Alameda County Context
Alameda 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.
See every agency we track in Alameda County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
Encryption here is a mixed bag: some talkgroups are locked, others aren't. It varies by channel and by what the department is doing at the time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Union City Police radio encrypted?
Yes — Union City Police's radio system runs on P25 AES-256 encryption. Encryption here is a mixed bag: some talkgroups are locked, others aren't. It varies by channel and by what the department is doing at the time.
Can I listen to Union City Police on a police scanner?
Partially. Union City Police encrypts some of its talkgroups while leaving others open, so some channels may still be accessible. Check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.
Why did Union City Police encrypt their radio?
Officer safety and operational security are the reasons agencies give. What rarely comes with that explanation is Alameda 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 Alameda County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes. Whoever made this call for Union City Police can also unmake it; there's no technical lock-in. The approach that has worked elsewhere combines public-records requests, direct council pressure, and a coordinated local coalition.
What can I do about Union City Police encryption?
Ask for the paperwork first — the policy that authorised encryption for Union City Police, and the recordings themselves — because a specific request is harder to wave away than a general complaint. Then take what you learn to a council meeting, and bring others from Alameda County with you.