The San Diego Police Department announced Friday it plans to encrypt its radio communications, blocking the public from listening to real-time information being shared by officers during public safety incidents.
The department had previously hesitated to make the change despite all other local police agencies, including the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, having already made the switch to encrypted communications.
But San Diego police officials said Friday the department’s decision to limit public access to live radio communications during incidents is to ensure they are in compliance with a October 2020 mandate from the California Department of Justice to protect the personal identifying information (PII) of all individuals.
“While SDPD made good faith efforts over the past several years to protect PII by using encrypted inquiry channels alongside traditional channels, doing so has proven operationally challenging, particularly during rapidly evolving or complex incidents,” said police Lt. Daniel Meyer, a spokesperson for the department. “This transition ensures SDPD can fully meet the DOJ’s requirements without compromising officer or public safety.”
Meyer said SDPD has replaced about 3,400 handheld radios and upgraded the 1,050 mobile radios in its vehicle fleet in recent years. The new encrypted channels, Meyers said, will use a higher level of encryption to better protect shared information.
“Nearly all law enforcement agencies across Southern California have already adopted encrypted radio technology to meet this standard,” the department said.
Officials said the department would continue to work with of the media and local communities to provide public safety updates.
The department currently offers the public access to many police calls through an online dispatch website at webapps.sandiego.gov/sdpdonline.
The department’s use of encrypted radio communications will begin Monday.
