We, the concerned residents of Oakland and advocates for open government, call on the Oakland Police Department (OPD) and city leaders to oppose the full encryption of police radio and dispatch communications.

Public access to scanner traffic has been a cornerstone of accountability and transparency in California since 1920. For over a century, this access has allowed journalists, community members, and citizen watchdogs to monitor law enforcement actions in real time—playing a vital role in building trust and ensuring that those with power remain answerable to the public they serve.

Now, that access is under threat.

Why This Matters:

Police accountability depends on public oversight. When scanner traffic is hidden, the community loses a key tool to monitor how officers respond to calls, treat residents, and carry out their duties.

Journalists need scanner access to report accurately. Without it, they don’t know where to go, which questions to ask, or who to interview. The public voice is lost, and OPD alone controls the narrative.

Speculation, mistrust, and misinformation thrive when the public information pipeline is delayed or controlled exclusively by the police.

Criminal misuse of scanners is already illegal. If a criminal uses scanner traffic to aid in a crime, it’s an additional charge under existing law. We shouldn’t punish the entire community for a crime that rarely occurs.

The Truth About Encryption:

In 2020, then-California Attorney General Xavier Becerra issued a memo urging law enforcement to protect sensitive personal data stored in the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS). While some interpreted this to mean full radio encryption, the memo clearly states that agencies can restrict CLETS data while continuing to provide radio traffic necessary for public safety.

In plain terms: Full radio encryption is not required by law.

OPD already uses encrypted tactical channels for undercover or sensitive operations. Officers also communicate via mobile data terminals (computers) and private texts when needed. There is no ongoing broadcast of private citizen information over public airwaves. The claim that scanner access puts sensitive data at risk simply doesn’t hold up.

Oakland Needs Transparency—Not More Secrecy:
It has been over 20 years since OPD came under federal oversight following the Riders scandal, a painful chapter in our city's history. The last thing OPD—or the public—needs now is the appearance of hiding information from those they are sworn to protect.

Keep police scanners open. Keep the public informed. Keep Oakland accountable.

Sign this petition today and demand that OPD reject full encryption of police radio communications.