LAPD Encryption: When America's Largest City Went Dark
In 2019, the Los Angeles Police Department—the nation's third-largest police force serving nearly 4 million people—completed full encryption of all radio communications. The decision ended a tradition of public access that had been integral to Los Angeles journalism, community oversight, and the city's cultural identity for generations.
The End of an Era
For decades, Los Angeles was a city of scanners. From newsrooms monitoring police activity to neighborhood watch groups tracking local crime, the LAPD radio had been a public resource woven into the fabric of city life. The sounds of LAPD dispatch were featured in countless movies and TV shows, reflecting the reality of a city where anyone could tune in.
That era ended in 2019. LAPD's transition to full encryption made it one of the first major city departments to go completely dark. At the time, cities like New York still had open scanners. LAPD's decision was a leading indicator of what would sweep the country— but Los Angeles led the way into opacity.
LAPD Encryption: By the Numbers
A History of Accountability Challenges
LAPD's relationship with public accountability is complex. The department has faced multiple federal interventions, consent decrees, and high-profile scandals. From Rodney King to Rampart, public scrutiny of LAPD has been central to Los Angeles civic life.
Scanner access was one form of that scrutiny. During the 1992 LA Riots, scanner listeners tracked police deployment and no-go zones. During officer-involved shootings, real-time monitoring provided information independent of official narratives. That independent source of information is now gone.
The Rampart Scandal Context
LAPD's Rampart scandal in the late 1990s—involving corruption, evidence planting, and civil rights violations—led to federal oversight. The consent decree that followed emphasized the need for greater accountability. Yet encryption moves in the opposite direction, reducing rather than enhancing public oversight.
Impact on Los Angeles Journalism
The LA Times, KABC, KNBC, and other Los Angeles media outlets once maintained scanner desks that monitored LAPD activity around the clock. Breaking news of shootings, pursuits, and major incidents often came first from scanner monitoring.
Since encryption, that model has fundamentally changed:
Delayed Coverage
News organizations now learn about incidents from official notifications, tips, or social media—often minutes or hours after events occur. The competitive advantage of real-time information is gone.
Official Dependency
Journalists rely more heavily on LAPD's own characterizations of events. Independent verification of police claims about incidents is harder without real-time radio access.
Reduced Coverage
Some incidents that would have been covered with scanner access never get reported at all. The public learns less about what LAPD is doing in their neighborhoods.
The Wildfire Factor
Southern California's wildfire seasons have become increasingly severe, with multiple major fires burning simultaneously across LA County. During these emergencies, police coordinate evacuations, establish perimeters, and manage traffic. Information moves fast— and now, it moves without public access.
When Fire Meets Encryption
During the 2018 Woolsey Fire, which burned through Malibu and the Santa Monica Mountains, scanner access helped residents understand developing threats. By 2019, LAPD was encrypted. Future fires of similar magnitude would be coordinated without public monitoring of police communications.
LA County Fire remains on open channels, but police coordination of evacuations, road closures, and security—increasingly important as fires threaten urban areas—is now hidden.
LAPD vs. Other Major Departments
When LAPD encrypted in 2019, it was ahead of the curve. Since then, other major cities have followed—but not all have chosen full encryption.
| Department | Status | Public Access |
|---|---|---|
| LAPD | Fully Encrypted | None |
| NYPD | Fully Encrypted (2025) | None |
| Chicago PD | 30-Min Delay | Delayed/Censored |
| Seattle PD | Partial | Main dispatch open |
| Grand Rapids | Open | Full access |
The Cultural Dimension
Los Angeles has a unique relationship with police communications in popular culture. From "Dragnet" to "CHiPs" to "End of Watch," the sounds of LA police radio have been part of the city's cultural identity. That authenticity—based on real public access— is now a historical artifact.
But beyond Hollywood representations, scanner access was real for real Angelenos. Neighborhood watch groups, citizen journalists, and safety-conscious residents all used scanner access as a practical tool. That community resource has been eliminated.
What Angelenos Can Do
Engage the Police Commission
The LA Police Commission oversees LAPD policy. While encryption is established, commissioners can be pressed on transparency provisions, media access programs, or partial reversals.
Support State Legislation
California's legislature could establish transparency requirements. Colorado passed statewide media access requirements—California could too. Contact your state representatives.
Demand Media Access Programs
Other departments have implemented credentialed media access to encrypted channels. LAPD could provide access to journalists without opening communications to everyone.
Document the Impact
If you've been affected by the loss of scanner access—as a journalist, community organizer, or resident—document your experience and share it with advocacy organizations.
The LA Model
LAPD's 2019 encryption set a template that other major cities have followed. Los Angeles was a test case—and from a transparency perspective, the test failed. The nation's second-largest city now operates one of its most opaque police forces.
But precedent can be reversed. If Angelenos demand change, if the Police Commission hears from constituents, if state legislators pass transparency requirements—LAPD's encryption doesn't have to be permanent. The question is whether LA residents will accept the status quo or push back.