police codes
Dispatcher numerical signals
Police codes are standardized numerical or alphanumeric signals used by law enforcement to communicate quickly and discretely over radio.
The most widespread system uses three-digit numbers prefixed with "10": 10-4 means message received, 10-20 means location.
Codes vary by department—a 187 means homicide in California but may mean nothing elsewhere.
Some departments have moved toward plain language for clarity.
- 10-4CB code for acknowledged
- dispatchSend with speed
- scannerDevice that reads data
- radioElectromagnetic wave receiver
- signalMessage-conveying cue
APB · backup · in pursuit · suspect · officer · badge · siren · homicide · robbery · pursuit · copy · over · static · crackle · radio silence · respond · unit · squad car
- jargonjargon, lingo, legal jargon, slang, buzz words
- local lawszoning, city ordinances, zoning ordinance, city ordinance, permits
- Police Trainingacademy, cadets, recruits, trainees, field training
- codespassword, binary, DNA, RNA, passcode
- Phonetic Alphabetalpha, bravo, delta, echo, foxtrot
- Emergency Codes911, 999, SOS, trauma alert, cardiac arrest
police codesplain English
Unadorned, accessible wording
plain language · layman's terms · clear speech · natural language · vernacular
police, code, codes, policed, policing, polices, policy, policies, coded