POLICE CODES AND ABBREVIATIONS:
A NEARLY-COMPLETE LIST
Below you will find the mother of all lists which is quite lengthy and intended to represent the range of abbreviations nationwide. Codes may vary by jurisdiction.
10-0 Use Caution
10-1 You are being received Poorly
10-2 You are being received Clearly
10-3 Stop Transmitting
10-4 O.K.
10-5 Relay Message
10-6 Busy with 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 Out of service, Radio on
10-11 Give F.C.C. Call Sign/Dispatching too fast
10-12 Visitors or officials present
10-13 Advise weather and road conditions
10-14 Convoy or escort detail
10-15 Prisoner in custody
10-15m Prisoner in custody (mental case)
10-16 Pick up prisoner
10-17 Pick up papers
10-18 Complete present asignment ASAP/Get there quick/ASAP
10-19 Return to office
10-20 Your location
10-21 Call by telephone
10-21A Phone home, my ETA is _____
10-21B Call your home
10-22 Cancel last message/Take no further action
10-23 Stand by until channel clears
10-24 Emergency at station/all units return
10-25 Do you have contact with ___________
10-26 Driver's license check by number or name
10-27 Check for wants or warrants
10-28 Check registration on vehicle
10-29 Check for stolen for
10-29A Check wants, subject (PIN)
10-29R Check wants and record, subject (PIN, CJIC)
10-29C Check complete, subject (NCIC)
10-30 Does not conform to rules or regulations
10-31 Is lie detector available?
10-32 Is Intoxilizer available?
10-33 Emergency traffic/don't transmit unless necessary
10-33 Alarm (type: Audible, silent)
10-34 Clear for local dispatch or open door
10-35 Confidential information or open window
10-36 Correct time
10-37 Give me name of Operator on duty
10-38 Your destination
10-39 Your message is delivered/Requested unit enroute
10-40 Advise if officer _______ available for phone call
10-41 Call the station on alternate frequency
10-42 Officer ..... now at his home
10-43 Have _________ call his/her residence
10-44 Station _________ is calling your residence
10-45 Give name of Officer in Charge or Injured person
10-46 Advise if ________ available at phone
10-47 Officer ______ is available at _________
10-48 Not available for assignment/out for coffee or whatever
10-49 Pick up passenger at ___________
10-50 No traffic for you/resume patrol
10-51 Message for delivery by telephone
10-52 Message for delivery in writing
10-53 Do you have traffic for this station?
10-54 Unit and officer have left the Parish
10-54d Possible dead body
10-55 Unit and officer have returned to Parish
10-55d Send coroner
10-56 Teletype busy
10-57 Teletype broken or Firearms discharged
10-58 Teletype in service
10-59 Tape for repeat message
10-60 What is next for message # _____
10-61 Stand by for teletype message
10-62 Unable to copy radio, use teletype or meet in person
10-63 Net in use, stand by, will advise when clear
10-64 Net clear, go ahead with traffic
10-65 Clear for assignment
10-66 Clear for cancellation
10-67 All stations retransmit following
10-68 Repeat dispatch
10-69 Have you dispatched _______?
10-70 Net message for all stations
10-71 Proceed with traffic
10-72 Stand by for Civil Defense Test
10-73 Stand by for Civil Defense Traffic
10-74 Civil Defense Clear
10-75 Severe weather statement
10-76 Give daily traffic
10-77 Give mileage your unit
10-78 Send ambulance
10-79 Send wrecker
10-80 Tower lights out/Explosion/Lightening
10-80a Assist radio dispatcher
10-81 Officer ______ will be at your station
10-82 Reserve room for officer
10-83 Have _______ call station by phone
10-84 Advise ____ officer will return this date
10-85 Officer _____ on special detail or Meet with agent
10-86 Advise phone number your location
10-87 Give call letters of your station
10-88 Advise phone number of officer
10-89 Request radio servicemen be sent
10-90 Request teletype servicemen
10-91 Prepare for inspection of ______ by ________
10-91B Noisy animal (Barking)
10-91D Dead animal
10-91H Stray Horse
10-92 Your quality is poor
10-93 Your quality is good
10-94 Call station by teletype
10-95 Advise telephone call this station
10-96 Give test count
10-97 Arrived at scence
10-98 Last detail completed
10-99 Unable to receive your message
10-100 Out using restroom
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 or Officer needs assistance
10-112 Impersonating an officer
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 Vehicle - Traffic hazzard
11-25X Female motorist need assistance
11-26 Abandoned bicycle
11-27 Subject has felony record, but is not wanted
11-28 Rush 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 Coroner required
11-45 Attempted suicide
11-46 Death report
11-47 Injured Person
11-48 Provide Transportation
11-54 Suspicious vehicle
11-65 Traffic Signal light out
11-66 Traffic Signal Out-of-order
11-70 Fire Alarm
11-71 Fire Report
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 Direct Traffic
11-85 Dispatched Tow Truck
11-86 Special Detail
11-87 Assist Other Unit
11-95 Out of vehicle, car stop (location/license)
11-96 Out of vehicle, car stop, send backup(location/license)
11-98 Meet Officer
11-99 Officer needs Help/Emergency
A Adult
A No rain expected
AC Aircraft crash
AC Animal control
ADW Assalt with a Deadly Weapon
APB All points bulletin
ASAP As soon as possible
AID Accident Investigation Detail
AV Abandoned vehicle
B Rain Expected
BLK Block
BKG Booking
BO Out of Order
BOL Be On the Lookout
CP Complaining Party
CPD City or County Property Damage
CT Court
DB Dead Body
DMV Department of Motor Vehicles Information requested
E-B Eastbound
ETA Estimated Time of Arrival
EXP Expired
FTA Failure to Appear
GOA Gone on Arrival
GTA Grand Theft Auto
INJ Injury
I/S Intersection
J Juvenile involved
LIC License
LT/T Left turn
M/C Motorcycle
NCIC National Criminal Information Center
NIA Non-Injury Accident
OBS Observed
OD Off Duty
OP LIC Operator's License
OT Over Time
PAB Policy Administration Building
PI Personal Injury
POSS Possession
QT Secrecy required
RES DIST Residential District
ROF Report on File
RP Reporting Party
SPD Speed
UL Unable to Locate
UTL Unable to Locate
VEH Vehicle
VIN Vehicle Identification Number
WIT Witness
X Female involved
45/25 MPH clocked speed in zone
Code 1 Acknowledge this Call
Code 2 Proceed Immediately with lights/without Siren
Code 3 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 Answering ring-down
Code 10 Bomb Threat
Code 12 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 22 Restricted Radio Traffic
Code 30 Officer needs assistance - Emergency
Code 33 Emergency Traffic on Air - All units stand by
Code 43 TAC forces committed
Code 100 In position to intercept Suspect
14 Ambulance in route
15 Citizens holding suspect
17f Fugitive attachment
17m Municipal court attachment
17t Traffic attachment
18 Traffic incident
19 Drunk
20 Auto accident
20a Airplane crash
20f Fatal accident
20i Injury accident
21 Complaint
23 Traffic congestion
24 Medical emergency
25 Call dispatcher
26 Police officer
27 Attempted crime
28 Inciting a felony
29 Death
30 Homicide
30c Homicide by cutting
30s Homicide by shooting
34 Aggravated battery
34c Cutting
34s Shooting
35 Simple battery
37 Aggravated assault
38 Simple assault
39 Negligent injury
42 Aggravated rape
43 Simple rape
44 Aggravated kidnapping
45 Simple kidnapping
51 Aggravated arson
51b Bomb threat
52 Simple arson
52e Explosives
52f Fire
54 Combustible materials
56 Criminal damage
58 Contaminated water
59 Criminal Mischief
60 Aggravated burglary
62 Alarms
62b Simple burglary
62c Auto burglary
62r Residential burglary
62s Safe burglary
63 Criminal Trespass
63s Sit-in
64 Armed robbery
64g Armed robbery/gun
64k Armed robbery/knife
65 Simple robbery
65p Purse snatching
66 Extortion threats
68 Unauthorized use of movable
69 Possession of stolen goods
71 Issuing worthless checks
72 Forgery
80 Carnal knowledge of juvenile
81 Indecent behavior with juvenile
82 Prostitution
84 Pandering
87 Abortion
89 Crime against nature
90 Gambling
90c Gambling by cards
90d Gambling by dice
91 Unlawful sale to minor
93 Cruelty to juvenile
94 Illegal use of weapon
95 Illegal carrying of gun
95k Illegal carrying of knife
98 D.W.I.
99 Reckless operation
100 Hit and run
148 Resisting Arrest
187 Homicide
207 Kidnapping
211 Armed Robery
240 Assalt - Misdemeanor
242 Battery
243 Assault on Police Officer
245 Assault with a Deadly Weapon
261 Rape
273 Assault on Person
288 Lewd Conduct / Felony sex offense
314 Indecent exposure
330 Gambling
311 Loud and Obscene
314 Indecent Exposure
390 Drunk
390c Drunk in Vehicle
390d Drunk Unconcious
404 Riot
407 Unlawful Assembly
415 Disturbing the Peace
415b Investigate the Trouble
415c Disturbance - Children involved
415d Disturbance - Drunk involved
415e Loud Music or Party
415f Disturbance - Family
415g Disturbance - Gang
417 Brandishing / Man with Gun
447 Arson
459 Burglary
459a Burglar Alarm ringing
459s Burglar Alarm - Silent
464 Burglary with Explosives
477a Arson
480 Hit and Run - Felony
481 Hit and Run - Misdemeanor
484 Petty theft
484f Fraudulent use of Credit Card(s)
484ps Purse Snatch
487 Grand theft
487.2 Theft from Person or Purse snatch
488 Petty theft
496 Recieving stolen property
502 Drunk driving - Misdemeanor
503 Auto theft
505 Reckless driving
507 Public Nuisance
537 Defrauding Innkeeper
586 Illegal parking
586e Vehicle blocking Driveway
594 Malicious mischief
602 Trespassing
602.5 Entry without consent
603 Unlawful entry
647 Vagrant
647a Vagrant loitering in Public Place
647b Prostitution
647c Begging
647d Loitering in Restroom
647e Loitering Place to Place
647f Drunk
647ff Drunk - enroute to Detox
647g Prowler
647h Illegal Lodging
901 Ambulance Call
901a Ambulance Call - Attempted Suicide
901b Ambulance Call - Drowning
901c Ambulance Call - Cutting
901d Ambulance Call - Drunk
901g Ambulance Call - Gas
901h Ambulance Call - Dead Body
901k Ambulance has been dispatched
901n Ambulance requested
901s Ambulance Call - Shooting
901t Ambulance Call - Traffic Accident
901y Request Ambulance if needed
902 Accident
902h Enroute to Hospital
902m Medical Aid needed
902t Traffic Accident
903 Aircraft Crash
904 Fire
910 Can handle detail
952 Report on conditions
955 Detail under control
956 Detail incomplete, but available
957 Delayed response of __ minutes
966 DRUG DEAL
1000 Plane crash
3000 Road block
4532 Escape
5150 Mentally disturbed person
10851 Stolen vehicle
10852 Tampering with vehicle
11300 Narcotics
12020 Carrying Concealed Weapon
14601 Driving w/suspended DL
20001 Felony hit and run
20002a Misdemeanor hit and run
22350 Speeding (used to be 505)
22500 Illegal parking/impound
23152 Misdemeanor Drunk driving
23153 Reckless driving (use to be 510)
23109 Speed Contest
Units Adam: Morning shift
Baker: Swing shift
Charlie: Day shift
Officers Adam: Auxillary
Charlie: Captain
Denver: Detective
David: Detective
Frank: Felony Investigation
Henry: Homicide
John: Juvenile
Lincoln: Lieutenant
Nora: Narcotics
Paul: Patrol
Sam: Sergeant
X-Ray: Burglary
Victor: Vice/Narcotics
King: Helicopter
Last updated: Oct 18, 2006
Not an official webpage of APSU, copyright restrictions apply, see Megalinks in Criminal Justice
O'Connor, T. (Date of Last Update at bottom of page). In Part of web cited (Windows name for file at top of browser), MegaLinks in Criminal Justice.
Police unit identifications vary from agency to agency. Although there may be similarities, there is no standard system for determining unit call signs from agency to agency.
In one large metropolitan law enforcement agency, the first one or two digits indicate the geographic area or specialized division to which the unit is assigned. The second letter indicates the type of unit. Most commonly, "A" indicates a two man unit. "L" indicates a one man units. Other specialized units are indicated by letters similar to those listed above. The last two digits of the call sign are the units numerical identification which, for a patrol unit, often corresponds to one of the reporting districts for which the unit is responsible.
Since there is so much variety, the only way to achieve any authenticity is to call the agency being used and ask them about their specific unit designations.
As mentioned there is a lot of variation in call signs. For the alphabet call sign in the department I used to be in was:
A- Adam
B- Boy
C- Charles
D- David
E- Edward
F- Frank
G- George
H- Henry
I- Ida
J- John
K- King
L- Lincoln
M- Mary
N- Nora
O- Ocean
P- Paul
Q- Queen
R- Robert
S- Sam
T- Tom
U- Union
V- Victor
X- X-ray
Y- Young
Z- Zebra
10-23 was officer needs assistance
Signal 88 was a drunk driver.
Good luck with your novel.