Important Message About Police Radio Terminology
It is important to remember that every law enforcement agency may use different 10 codes; they may be completely different from the ones listed on this web page. However, a great deal of agencies probably use some or even all of the codes listed below.
Police Officer Ten Codes: Why Was It Developed For Law Enforcement Officers?
Ten-codes, or 10-codes, are codes used in two-way voice radio communication as numeric code words for frequently used messages. Ten-codes are used particularly by law enforcement and in Citizen’s Band (CB) radio transmissions. They originated in the United States law enforcement community before World War II.
The first set of 10-codes was published by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials in 1940. Ten codes were invented to help reduce use of speech on the radio. Use of the codes was expanded in 1974 by the Association of Public Safety Communication Officials (APCO), to allow for brevity and standardization of message traffic.
Law Enforcement Terminology
There is no universal or official set of 10-codes and the meanings of a particular 10-code can vary between one police jurisdiction and another. While law enforcement ten codes were intended to be a concise and part of a standardized system, the proliferation of different meanings has rendered it somewhat useless for situations where people from different agencies and jurisdictions need to communicate.
In 2005, the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) discouraged the use of ten-codes and other codes due to their high variability in meaning. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security reportedly has plans to do away with 10-codes as well.
Below is a list of commonly used 10 codes by police departments across the country. As always, make sure to double check the list below with the department you are applying to as it may be different.
- 10-0 Caution
- 10-1 Unable to copy — change location
- 10-2 Signal good
- 10-3 Stop transmitting
- 10-4 Acknowledgement (OK)
- 10-5 Relay
- 10-6 Busy — stand by unless urgent
- 10-7 Out of service
- 10-8 In service
- 10-9 Repeat
- 10-10 Fight in progress
- 10-11 Dog case
- 10-12 Stand by (stop)
- 10-13 Weather — road report
- 10-14 Prowler report
- 10-15 Civil disturbance
- 10-16 Domestic disturbance
- 10-17 Meet complainant
- 10-18 Quickly
- 10-19 Return to …
- 10-20 Location
- 10-21 Call … by telephone
- 10-22 Disregard
- 10-23 Arrived at scene
- 10-24 Assignment completed
- 10-25 Report in person (meet) …
- 10-26 Detaining subject, expedite
- 10-27 Drivers license information
- 10-28 Vehicle registration information
- 10-29 Check for wanted
- 10-30 Unnecessary use of radio
- 10-31 Crime in progress
- 10-32 Man with gun
- 10-33 Emergency
- 10-34 Riot
- 10-35 Major crime alert
- 10-36 Correct time
- 10-37 (Investigate) suspicious vehicle
- 10-38 Stopping suspicious vehicle
- 10-39 Urgent — use light, siren
- 10-40 Silent run — no light, siren
- 10-41 Beginning tour of duty
- 10-42 Ending tour of duty
- 10-43 Information
- 10-44 Permission to leave … for …
- 10-45 Animal carcass at …
- 10-46 Assist motorist
- 10-47 Emergency road repairs at …
- 10-48 Traffic standard repair at …
- 10-49 Traffic light out at …
- 10-50 Accident (fatal, personal injury, property damage)
- 10-51 Wrecker needed
- 10-52 Ambulance needed
- 10-53 Road blocked at …
- 10-54 Livestock on highway
- 10-55 Suspected DUI
- 10-56 Intoxicated pedestrian
- 10-57 Hit and run (fatal, personal injury, property damage)
- 10-58 Direct traffic
- 10-59 Convoy or escort
- 10-60 Squad in vicinity
- 10-61 Isolate self for message
- 10-62 Reply to message
- 10-63 Prepare to make written copy
- 10-64 Message for local delivery
- 10-65 Net message assignment
- 10-66 Message cancellation
- 10-67 Clear for net message
- 10-68 Dispatch information
- 10-69 Message received
- 10-70 Fire
- 10-71 Advise nature of fire
- 10-72 Report progress on fire
- 10-73 Smoke report
- 10-74 Negative
- 10-75 In contact with …
- 10-76 En route …
- 10-77 ETA (estimated time of arrival)
- 10-78 Need assistance
- 10-79 Notify coroner
- 10-80 Chase in progress
- 10-81 Breathalyzer
- 10-82 Reserve lodging
- 10-83 Work school xing at …
- 10-84 If meeting … advise ETA
- 10-85 Delayed due to …
- 10-86 Officer/operator on duty
- 10-87 Pick up/distribute checks
- 10-88 Present telephone number of …
- 10-89 Bomb threat
- 10-90 Bank alarm at …
- 10-91 Pick up prisoner/subject
- 10-92 Improperly parked vehicle
- 10-93 Blockade
- 10-94 Drag racing
- 10-95 Prisoner/subject in custody
- 10-96 Mental subject
- 10-97 Check (test) signal
- 10-98 Prison/jail break
- 10-99 Wanted/stolen indicated
