US police codes and meaning

US police codes and meaning

Bydennis

Police radio codes are tactical communication codes, normally spoken in a numerical or alphanumeric form. They are used to share details between police officers through radio systems in the United States. For instance, 10 codes like 10-4 implying “okay” are common examples.

They play highly important roles in law enforcement. Apart from being very concise, they enable policemen to communicate without hassles over frequencies that might be tracked by ordinary people in general. This way, they can ensure some privacy. While civilians can listen to their conversations, their meaning won’t be immediately understood.

 

US police codes and meaning

 

Brief history of police codes

As the use of radio communication systems became popular with non-military and non-emergency personnel, police stations and officers were the first major users of the technology shortly after its invention. Policemen had to use brief codes and speech because radios weren’t enough for them and they had to quickly share important information. They were discouraged from spending too much time on a call.’

Radio at the time also had weakened antennae, thus necessitating the use of short syllable words like “ten” to seamlessly pass across the brief message.

In 1955, the list of 10 codes became a standardized use for police officers. Some of them include:

  • 10-1: Signal Weak
  • 10-2: Signal Good
  • 10-3: Stop Transmitting
  • 10-4: Acknowledgement (OK)
  • 10-10: Fight in Progress
  • 10-29: Check for Wanted
  • 10-31: Crime in Process
  • 10-33: Emergency

Truck drivers also started using radio systems to speak with each other during a trip and encountered similar challenges with poor transmission. For this reason, they adopted a similar 10-but code, but quite different from the police code.

 

Primary purposes of using police codes

 

Clarity

In situations where there’s “assault,” “theft” or “robbery,” there is a particular code for each offence. This way, there won’t be any confusion. One officer may view an incident from a different perspective and may refer to it in an ambiguous way if plain talk is used. For instance, an officer may describe an act of vandalism instead of a burglary. However, with code, it’s much clearer and comprehensible.

 

Discretion

Officers should try to maintain privacy when talking over the radio. A murder incident shouldn’t be overheard by a hobbyist who is tinkering with a radio system. Thus, the use of police codes helps to maintain a high level of privacy.

 

Efficiency

Police codes can help facilitate quicker communication than plain talk, especially in emergency cases where urgent dispatch is needed. For instance, 10–50 is also faster to say and understand than “vehicle collides with a tree”.

 

Common US Police Codes and Their Meanings

 

Code Description
10-00 Officer down, all patrols respond
10-0 Use caution
10-1 You are being received poorly / Cannot copy
10-2 You are being received clearly / Signal is strong
10-3 Stop transmitting
10-4 Affirmative / Understood / Message received
10-5 Relay message to [person]
10-6 Busy / Out at call
10-7 Out of service (completely)
10-7b Out of service (personal)
10-7c Out of service (court)
10-7od Out of service (off duty)
10-8 In service
10-8ot In service (over time)
10-9 Repeat last message
10-10 Negative / Fight in progress
10-11 Identify frequency / Dispatching too fast
10-12 Standby / Visitor(s) present
10-13 Advise weather and road conditions
10-14 Convoy or escort detail / Suspicious person
10-15 Prisoner in custody / Message delivered
10-15m Prisoner in custody (mental case)
10-16 Pick up prisoner / Reply to message
10-17 Pick up papers / En route
10-18 Urgent / Complete present assignment ASAP
10-19 Return to station or location
10-20 Your location
10-21 Call by telephone
10-21a Advise home I will return at [ETA]
10-21b Call your home
10-22 Disregard / Cancel last message
10-23 Arrived at scene / Stand by until channel clears
10-24 Emergency backup / Emergency at station
10-25 Report to [person] / Do you have contact with [person]
10-26 Detaining suspect / Check auto registration
10-27 Request drivers license check
10-28 Check registration on vehicle
10-29 Request arrests/warrants check
10-29a Check wants, subject [PIN]
10-29c Check complete, subject [NCIC]
10-29f Subject wanted, felony
10-29h Hazard potential from subject
10-29m Subject wanted, misdemeanor
10-29r Check wants and record, subject [PIN, CJIC]
10-29v Vehicle wanted
10-30 Does not conform to rules or regulations
10-31 Crime in progress / in pursuit
10-32 Person with gun
10-33 Emergency, all units stand by
10-34 Open door or window / Riot
10-35 Confidential information or open window
10-36 Provide current time of day
10-37 Identify yourself / suspicious vehicle
10-38 Traffic stop
10-39 Run with lights and siren
10-40 Run silent (no lights or siren)
10-41 Begin duty
10-42 End duty
10-43 Information
10-44 Permission to leave patrol
10-45 Condition of patient
10-45a Condition of patient – Good
10-45b Condition of patient – Serious
10-45c Condition of patient – Critical
10-45d Condition of patient – Dead
10-46 Motorist assist
10-47 Emergency road repair
10-48 Traffic control
10-49 Traffic light out
10-50 Officer welfare check / under influence of drugs
10-51 Tow truck needed / under influence of alcohol
10-52 Ambulance needed
10-53 Road blocked / Man down
10-54 Possible fatality
10-54d Possible dead body
10-55 Intoxicated driver
10-55d Send coroner
10-56 Intoxicated pedestrian / Suicide
10-56a Suicide attempt
10-57 Hit and run accident / Missing person
10-58 Direct Traffic
10-59 Escort or convoy / Security check
10-60 Squad in vicinity
10-61 Personnel in vicinity / Not wanted
10-62 Subject possibly wanted
10-63 Subject positive / Prepare to copy
10-64 Subject wanted / Found property
10-65 Net message assignment
10-66 Check officer’s well-being
10-67 Clear for next message
10-68 Dispatch message
10-69 Clear to copy transmission?
10-70 Fire alarm / Prowler
10-71 Advise nature of fire / Shooting
10-72 Report progress of fire / Gun involved / D.O.A.
10-73 How do you copy / Smoke report
10-74 Negative / Theft
10-75 Severe weather statement
10-76 En route to location
10-77 Estimated Time of Arrival
10-78 Need assistance / Send ambulance
10-79 Notify coroner / Bomb threat
10-80 Pursuit in progress
10-80a Assist radio dispatcher
10-81 Traffic stop initiated / Breathalyzer request
10-82 Reserve lodging
10-83 Work/school crossing detail
10-84 Advise ETA
10-85 Arrival delay due to [cause]
10-86 Officer on-duty
10-87 Give call letters of your station
10-88 Advise phone number of officer
10-89 Bomb threat
10-90 Alarm going off / Bank alarm
10-91 Pick up subject / Prepare for inspection / Animal
10-91a Animal – stray
10-91b Animal – noisy
10-91c Animal – injured
10-91d Animal – dead
10-91e Animal – bite
10-91g Animal – pickup
10-91j Animal – pickup collect
10-91l Animal – leash law violation
10-91v Animal – vicious
10-92 Subject in custody / Parking violation
10-93 Blockage
10-94 Street racing
10-95 Officer’s residence
10-96 Mental patient / Detain suspect
10-97 Arrived at scene / Record information
10-98 Assignment complete / Prison break
10-99 Cardiac arrest / Officer held hostage
10-100 Misdemeanor warrant / Out using restroom
10-101 Ending security check
10-102 Cruelty to animals
10-103 Disturbance
10-103f Disturbance by fight
10-103m Disturbance by mental person
10-106 Obscenity
10-107 Suspicious person
10-108 Officer down / Officer in danger
10-109 Suicide
10-110 Juvenile disturbance
10-112 Impersonating an officer
10-200 Narcotics, drugs involved
10-1000 Felony warrant / Dead person
10-2000 Police required immediately

 

Police Radio 11-Codes

Code Description
11-6 Illegal discharge of firearms
11-7 Prowler
11-8 Person down
11-10 Take a report
11-12 Dead animal
11-13 Injured animal
11-14 Animal bite
11-15 Ball game in street
11-17 Wires down
11-24 Abandoned vehicle
11-25 Road/traffic hazard
11-25x Female motorist needs assistance
11-26 Inoperable vehicle
11-27 Subject has felony record but is not wanted
11-28 Check vehicle registration information
11-29 Subject has no record
11-30 Incomplete telephone call
11-31 Person calling for help
11-40 Advise station if ambulance is needed
11-41 Request ambulance
11-42 Ambulance not required
11-43 Doctor required
11-44 Possible fatality / coroner required
11-45 Attempted suicide
11-46 Death report
11-47 Injured Person
11-48 Provide transportation
11-51 Escort
11-52 Funeral detail
11-54 Suspicious vehicle
11-55 Officer being followed by auto
11-56 Officer being followed by auto with dangerous persons
11-57 Unidentified auto at assignments
11-58 Radio monitored, use phone
11-59 High hazard area, use special attention
11-60 Attack in high hazard area
11-65 Traffic Signal light out
11-66 Traffic signal out-of-order
11-70 Fire alarm
11-71 Fire report
11-78 Aircraft accident
11-79 Traffic accident – ambulance dispatched
11-80 Traffic accident – serious injury
11-81 Traffic accident – minor injury
11-82 Traffic accident – no injury
11-83 Traffic accident – no details
11-84 Manual traffic control needed
11-85 Tow truck needed
11-86 Bomb threat
11-87 Bomb found / Assist Other Unit
11-94 Pedestrian stop
11-95 Out of vehicle, routine traffic stop
11-96 Out of vehicle, traffic stop, send backup
11-97 Time/security check on patrol
11-98 Meet officer
11-99 Officer needs help immediately

 

Basic Police Radio Codes

Code Description
Code 1 Non-urgent situation
Code 2 Urgent – Proceed immediately
Code 3 Emergency – Proceed immediately with lights and siren
Code 4 No further assistance required
Code 5 Stakeout – uniformed officers stay away
Code 6 Out of vehicle for investigation
Code 7 Out of service to eat
Code 8 Fire alarm
Code 9 Roadblock
Code 10 Bomb threat / Patrol your district and report extent of damage
Code 13 Major disaster activation
Code 14 Resume normal operation
Code 20 Notify news media to respond
Code 21 Jail emergency
Code 22 Restricted radio traffic
Code 30 Officer needs emergency assistance
Code 33 Clear radio channel – emergency traffic only
Code 37 Subject/Property wanted
Code 43 TAC forces committed
Code 100 In position to intercept suspect
Code 666 Country-wide emergency
Code Blue Bus/Cab in trouble
Code Purple Gang activity
Code Red VARDA alarm activated

 

Emergency Response Codes

Code Description
Code 10 Critical trauma case
Code 20 Acute trauma case
Code 30 Trauma case
Code 40 Serious case (IV started)
Code 50 Basic transport (not serious)
Code 77 Possible ambush – use caution
Code N Newsworthy event

 

Police Radio Nicknames

Code Description
Baker Swing shift
Charlie Day shift
Charlie Captain
David Detective
Denver Detective
Frank Felony Investigation
Henry Homicide
John Juvenile
King Helicopter
Lincoln Lieutenant
Nora Narcotics
Officers Adam Auxiliary
Paul Patrol
Sam Sergeant
Units Adam Morning shift
Victor Vice/Narcotics
X-Ray Burglary

 

Note

 

  • In the US states of Indiana and Kentucky, it is considered a criminal offence to use a police scanner radio without authorisation from the Federal Communications Commission or approval from a police.

  • It may be unsafe and criminal to respond to these codes using your personal radio or an ill-gotten radio from a police department.

  • Police codes vary across states and regions. For instance, the police department in New York may use a different code from the ones used by the Los Angeles Police Department. law enforcement agency or the law enforcement agency that you are listening to use the same meanings for the Police 10 Codes, or that they even use Police 10 Codes.

  • Ensure you respect and obey police officers, as they are legally mandated to keep you secure, others around you, and themselves. They will provide you with instructions if they believe it can help them work more effectively.

 

FAQ

What does code 3 mean?

Code 3 is a response code that is used by an emergency unit to respond to a call using red lights and sirens. It is one of the basic categories of code used in the US.

What does 10.4 mean?

10-4 is a code for “Okay,” or “understood.” Law enforcement officers in the US, Canada and Mexico use this code for message traffic. Its origin can be traced to the 1930s.

What is code 6 US police?

Code 6 is during investigation activities and help is needed. So the police officer will state a code six and then say his whereabouts during the radio communication.

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