Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Police Encryption topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Berkeley council authorizes police radio encryption, adds near-real-time public call log
Summary
After hours of public comment and council debate, Berkeley approved encrypting its police department’s primary radio channels citing officer and victim safety, and adopted a supplemental plan to publish a near-real-time call log on the city Transparency Hub to preserve timely public information.
Mayor Adina Ishii called the Berkeley City Council into session Oct. 28, and the body voted to authorize encryption of the Berkeley Police Department’s primary radio channels while directing the department to implement transparency measures to reduce the impact on journalists and community monitors.
The council’s action, approved after detailed presentations and more than an hour of public comment, followed a department presentation citing three reasons for encryption: neighboring jurisdictions had already encrypted channels; state guidance requires protection of personal identifying information and criminal-justice information transmitted over radio; and recent investigations showed suspects using publicly available scanner apps to evade arrest. “We’re here tonight to ask the council’s permission to encrypt our police department’s primary channels,” the department representative told council (speaker 13).
The police offered a three-part mitigation plan that will remain in place if encryption proceeds: keep fire radio channels unencrypted; maintain rapid public communications via media releases and Nixle alerts; and publish a near-real-time call log on the city’s Transparency Hub that pulls select fields from the CAD system (call type, time received, general location and priority level) with an expected refresh “under 30 minutes.” “We intend to publish a near real-time call log on our Transparency Hub,” the department’s representative said (speaker 47).
Opponents argued the change reduces public oversight. Activists, journalists and volunteer monitoring groups said the open scanner has long allowed real-time community observation and rapid reporting on critical incidents. “For 35 years, I’ve walked the streets of this town trying to hold the Berkeley police accountable,” a long-time community monitor testified (speaker 11). Several speakers urged referral to the Police Accountability Board (PAB) or additional committee review before action.
Supporters, including council members who had worked with the department on the supplemental, cited officer and victim safety and the risks posed by live scanner monitoring. The Berkeley Police Association and on‑duty officers testified that unencrypted channels can expose victim addresses and other sensitive details that could put callers or witnesses at risk.
The council approved the measure with the city manager’s supplemental transparency provisions: a near-real-time public call log (drawn from CAD, omitting exact addresses for sensitive calls), continued Nixle and media communications, and retention and redaction policies for recordings. The roll call recorded eight votes in favor and one against (Council member Luna Parra voted no). The council directed staff to refine the call-log fields with community stakeholders and the press and to schedule implementation to align the secure radio cutover and the Transparency Hub work.
What happens next: the department will implement encryption for primary radio channels and work with IT, AC Transit and media partners to iterate the call log and public notification workflows. The council asked staff to continue engagement with community groups, Copwatch, the PAB and the press to reduce oversight gaps.
