List of 10 Police Codes (2023)

What are the 10 Police Codes?

The 10 Police Codes are signals that police officers, law enforcement officers, and government agencies use to speak in two-way radio communications. Codes are numbers that correspond to words, phrases, and messages commonly used in law enforcement work. In addition, certain code variations are used by private individuals in Citizens Band (CB) radio transmissions.

Police officers constantly communicate with headquarters, other officers, support departments, the local jail, county correctional facilities and others. First and foremost, codes help streamline communication and add an element of secrecy. In addition, they help to protect communication with the general public.

How did the 10 police codes come about?

Originally, Police 10 codes were used in the United States law enforcement community prior to World War II. In 1940, the Association of Public Safety Communication Officers (APC) published the first official set of 10 police codes. These radio signals were invented to reduce the use of voice on police radio. In addition, the codes enable a certain degree of privacy in radio transmissions. This means that someone must know the meaning of the signals in order to understand the discussion.

In 1974, the Association of Public Safety Communication Officers expanded the use of police radio codes to make them shorter and to standardize message traffic.

Official set of ten police codes

There are no truly universal or official police codes10.Therefore, the meaning of a particular code or scanner signal may vary from one law enforcement jurisdiction to another. For example, police departments in the state of California may use different codes and signals than those in the states of Florida, New York, or Texas.

Originally, the 10 Law Enforcement Signals were intended to be a concise, standardized system to help officers and officers speak on the radio. However, the proliferation of various meanings has rendered it somewhat useless. Most common in situations where people from different authorities and jurisdictions need to communicate with each other.

In 2005, the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) began discouraging the use of Ten codes and other radio signals by law enforcement. This was due to its high variability in meaning between departments and agencies. Therefore, the Department of Homeland Security may stop using the marks.

variations

Some organizations and municipalities also use other types of police radio codes. For example, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) uses "Elf-Codes', and the port police use 'eight codes'. You set these up to have a new and unique set of characters.

Many police departments across the country use regular English over the radio to ensure clear communication. This relieves the officials and the disposition. This means they don't have to mentally go back to the list of ten codes to decode a transmission. However, this approach removes any secrecy or privacy from the radio transmission.

Also, the meaning of the unique codes can vary between police officers and other public service entities. For example, emergency medical services (EMS), fire brigades and other police units.

List of 10 police codes

Below is a list of some of the 10 most common police codes. Again, it's important to note that there is no universal set of ten police codes. Usage varies by department, state, and agency. If you know of anything that we may have missed, please comment below.

10-1 = poor reception
10-2 = Good reception
10-3 = end transmission
10-4 = message received, confirming, OK
10-5 = Please forward this information (name of person, officer, etc.)
10-6 = The clerk is busy
10-7 = Out of service, not available
10-8 = In service
10-9 = Please repeat (Please repeat the message)
10-10 = negative (no)
10- 11 = dog (or other animal)
10-12 = Standby
10-13 = civilians present and listening (this allows the dispatcher or other offices not to release sensitive information over the radio)
10-14 = Prowler report
10-15 = With the suspect on the way to the train station
10-16 = Domestic problem
10-17 = Knowing the Whistleblower
10-18 = Urgent matter
10-19 = return to the train station
10-20 = specify location/my location is (location name)
10-21 = Make a call to (person's name)
10-22 = Ignore
10-23 = Standby on this frequency (Also, 1023 means "local" in some areas)
10-24 = task complete
10-25 = introduce yourself personally (meeting)
10-26 = suspect in custody
10-27 = Vehicle Registration Application
10-28 = arrests/warrants found on driver's license
10-29 = Arrests/Arrest Warrants found in vehicle
10-30 = Unnecessary use of police radio
10-31 = Crime or criminal activity in progress
10-32 = weapon/gun
10-33 = follow emergency traffic; keep routine messages
10-34 = radio frequency open (erases message 10-33)
10-35 = Serious crime warning
10-36 = What is the correct time of day?
10-37 = Suspicious vehicle (investigate)
10-38 = Suspicious vehicle (stops)
10-39 = false alarm; the premises were occupied
10-40 = False alarm, no activity, facility appears safe
10-41 = Startuhr
10-42 = end of clock. Police departments primarily use the end of guard signal when an officer is killed. For example, either on duty or due to illness. The ceremony is usually performed by the dispatcher making a final call to the officer, followed by a moment of silence.
10-43 = information
10-44 = permission to exit
10-45 = tank truck/vehicle
10-46 = support motorists
10-47 = Emergency road repair required in
10-48 = Standard traffic repair required
10-49 = On the way to an assignment
10-50 = accident
10-51 = Crane needed
10-52 = ambulance needed
10-53 = road closed at (place name)
10-54 = animals on the street
10-55 = security check (also used for a drunk driver)
10-56 = pedestrian drunk
10-57 = hit and run accident
10-58 = direct traffic
10-59 = Escort
10-60 = nearby squad, lockout
10-61 = personnel in the area
10-62 = reply to message
10-63 = Delete to copy data?
10-64 = message for delivery
10-65 = network message assignment
10-66 = Cancel network message
10-67 = person asking for help
10-68 = shipping message
10-69 = Confirm message received
10-70 = drifter, fire alarm
10-71 = Weapon involved, report type of fire
10-72 = Shooting and Fire Progress Report
10-73 = smoke alarm
10-74 = negative, no
10-75 = In contact with (name)
10-76 = officer is on his way/on his way
10-77 = Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA), time until
10-78 = Need help
10-79 = bomb threat
10-80 = The bomb has exploded
10-81 = Breathalyzer report
10-82 = book accommodation
10-83 = Inter-school job at (location)
10-84 = Yes_, Notify ETA
10-85 = delay because of (reason)
10-86 = police officer on duty
10-87 = pickup
10-88 = Find the current phone number of (person)
10-89 = bomb threat
10-90 = bank alarm sounds at (location)
10-91 = Pick up a prisoner
10-92 = Improperly parked vehicle
10-93 = Block
10-94 = drag race
10-95 = prisoner/custody
10-96 = psychiatric patient, a person exhibiting insane or psychotic behavior
10-97 = verification signal (1097 also means "On Stage" in California and other areas)
10-98 = prison break or jailbreak
10-99 = Record wanted/stolen

Other police codes 10

10-100 = body found
10-101 = What is your status?
10-106 = insurance
10-200 = Alarm
10-999 = Officer Down / The officer needs help immediately. This is an SOS alert that requires immediate attention. In a situation where an officer is down, all available units will respond.

Note: sometimes they are formatted as "code number" instead of using the number 10 as a prefix. For example, in some situations the officer would not say, "I'm 10-7," meaning he's "off duty." Instead, the officer said, "Code seven." Again, the type of use can vary depending on the department.

List of police scanner codes

Below is a sample list ofPolice scanner codes. Keep in mind that these may vary by department, city, and geographic area.

187 = Murder
207 = Kidnapping (207a is a kidnapping attempt)
211 = burglary (also scanner code 211a means burglary with alarm, 211s is with silent alarm)
217 = Attack with intent to kill
5150 = Mental case
10851 = Carjacking / stolen vehicle
10852 = Vehicle tampering
20001 = hit and run crime
20002 = hit and run - administrative offense
20007 = Hit and Run - Unattended
21958 = Drunk pedestrian on the street
22350 = Over speeding
22500 = Illegal parking
23101 = drunk driving - with injuries
23102 = drunk driving
23103 = Reckless driver
23104 = Reckless driver
23105 = Driver under the influence of drugs
23109 = Motorsport
23110 = Person throwing objects at vehicles
23151 = drunk driving - with injuries
23152 = Drunk driver

In addition to the scanner numeric codes, departments can assign a meaning to a color (e.g., blue, red, purple, etc.). For example, Code Blue means “emergency” in some departments, similar to hospitals. Also, the code purple stands for "Gang Activity". Likewise, there is no universal standard for color codes.

Use of the phonetic alphabet in radio communications

The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is a system of alphabetic phonetic notation based primarily on the Latin alphabet. The International Phonetic Association developed thePhonetisches Alphabetstandardize the representation of the sounds of the spoken language.

Police, military, private investigators, and civilians use the phonetic alphabet during radio communications. These individuals use the alphabet to ensure clear communication when speaking to other police officers, dispatches, or officials. For example, when transmitting a product description, a tag number or an address. Commonly used in radio communications.

military phonetic alphabet

Officers can use the military phonetic alphabet when speaking on the radio. The use of the military phonetic alphabet helps all parties understand the correct spelling of names, streets, buildings, etc. Below is a table explaining the letters of the phonetic alphabet and their pronunciation:

A = Alfa (AL fah)
B = Bravo (BRAH VOH)
C =Charlie (CHAR Lee)
D = Delta (DELL tah)
E =Eco (ECK oh)
F = Foxtrott (trote FOKS)
G = Golf (GOLF)
H = Hotel (hoh DIGA)
I = If (IN dee ah)
J = Julieta (JUDIO Lee ETT)
K = Kilo (TECLA loh)
L = Lima (LEE mah)
M = Mike (MIKE)
N = November (after VEM ber)
O = Oscar (OSS-Cah)
P = Papa (pah PAH)
Q = Quebec (keh BECK)
R = Romeo (ROW me oh)
S = Sierra (via AIRE rah)
T = Tango (TANGir)
U = Uniform (You need form
V = Victor (VIK tah)
W = Whisky (tecla WISS)
X = X-rays (ECKS RAYS)
Y = Yankee
Z = Zulu (GOOD)

civil phonetic alphabet

The following is a version of the phonetic alphabet for civilian use:

• A = Adam
• B = boy
• C = Carlos
• D=David
• E = Eduard
• F = Frank
• G = Jörg
• H = Enrique
• I = go
• J = Juan
• k = king
• L = Lincoln
• M = Maria
• N = Nora
• The = ocean
• P = Paulus
• q = queen
• R = Roberto
• S = Sam
• T = Tom
• U = Einhorn
• V = winner
• W = Guillermo
• X = X-rays
• Y = gelb
• Z = Zebra

List of acronyms used by police officers in policing

In addition, officials can useacronymshorten communication. The following are some of the more common acronyms and terms (we're still expanding this part of our list, so if you know any more, please leave a comment below):

• ADW = Deadly Weapon Attack
• AKA = Also known as
• AG = Fiscal General
• ATF = Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms
• B&E – Break Out and Enter
• BOLO = Attention
• CHP = California Highway Patrol
• CRT = Code-Response-Team
• CI = Confidential Informant
• CO = Commanding Officer
• DA = district tax
• DEA = Drug Enforcement Agency
• DL =driver's license
• DOA = Death on Arrival
• DOC = correctional facility
• DMV= motor vehicle office
• DEA = Drug Enforcement Agency
• Date of Birth = Date of Birth
• DUI = Driving under the influence
• DWI = Driving while intoxicated
• ETA = Estimated Time of Arrival (also commonly used to say "how long")
• EOW = end of clock
• FBI= Federal Criminal Police Office
• FTA = No Show
• GTA - Grand Theft Auto
• OIS = Officer Involved Shooting
• PD = Police Department
• PnP = party in game. Most often it refers to an ongoing party that involves the use of drugs such as methamphetamine or ecstasy.
• RHD = Department of Robbery and Homicide
• PR = reporter
• SRT = Special Response Team
• SWAT = Special Weapons and Tactics
• VIN= chassis number

Other types of codes and signals

Occasionally departments use code names and terms to indicate a unit covering a specific geographic area, e.g. patrol 1, patrol 2, etc. For example, the codename "patrol 1" can refer to a specific bar or section. a city, municipality, etc.

Otherwise, there may be a special designation for supervisors, motorcycle units, SWAT teams, or even naval units.

In addition, departments can use code names to represent different segments, e.g. B. Squad 1, Unit 1, Team 3, etc. These may indicate the specific group responding to a call or the squad at a crime scene.

amateur funker

Ham radio operators don't use ten codes. Instead, they use so-called Q-codes, which are derived from Morse code. The use of ten codes is strongly discouraged in amateur radio, especially among experienced professionals. However, they are sometimes used by novice traders.

Questions, Comments and Suggestions

If you have any questions about the ten police codes or are looking for the meaning of something specific, please leave a comment below. If you also want to take this information with you in a PDF eBook, visit theBooksSection.

More information

If you are interested in the work of the police, find out more about themgearjvehiclesUsed by police officers on duty. Also view a list of related resourcesProsecution, associations and more.