Community update regarding our radio communications system

The Hayward Police Department would like to provide our community with an update regarding our radio communications system, which is used to transmit sensitive and private information during the course of our duties.

The Hayward Police Department is authorized by the California Department of Justice (CA DOJ) to access CLETS, the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System. CLETS is a secure computer network that gives law enforcement and criminal justice agencies access to critical databases, including information such as identification records, criminal histories, and driving records.

One of the primary ways officers access CLETS is through our police radio system, known as the East Bay Regional Communications System Authority (EBRCSA). This shared digital radio network is used by police and fire agencies throughout Alameda County. For example, when an officer conducts a traffic stop, they may need to confirm that a driver has a valid license or check for outstanding warrants. To complete this, the officer provides personally identifiable information (PII)-often from a driver's license-over the radio to our dispatchers, who then verify the information through CLETS.

Currently, the main radio channel is not encrypted. This means that anyone with a commercial scanner or a smartphone scanning application could potentially listen to sensitive transmissions.

In October 2020, the California Department of Justice issued a statewide policy update mandating that all law enforcement agencies encrypt transmissions containing sensitive PII. This mandate is intended to protect the privacy of individuals and victims of crime, and to reduce the risk of identity theft.

Of the fifteen law enforcement agencies in Alameda County, all are scheduled to switch to full encryption. The Hayward Police Department is expected to transition to encrypted transmissions beginning on September 3rd, 2025.

We understand that some community members may have questions about encryption. Please know that the Hayward Police Department remains committed to keeping the public informed. We will continue to provide timely updates through our social media platforms-including Twitter, Facebook, Nextdoor, Nixle, and Instagram.

The Hayward Police Department's Public Information Officer, along with department administration, is available to provide information to media outlets.