By Jessica Pope
April 21, 2008 10:04 am
—
Have you ever overheard a conversation between a law enforcement officer and dispatch personnel? If you answered yes, have you ever wondered what they were discussing with a 10-this and a 10-that?
Ten-codes were developed in the 1940s, at a time when police radio channels were limited, to reduce use of speech on the radio, according to experts at Officer.com. Some believe it originated with a man named Charles Hopper, a communications director with the Illinois State Police who was involved in radio for many years and saw a need to abbreviate radio transmissions on state police bands.
Often used by law enforcement personnel, as well as other groups, the ten-codes represent everyday phrases in voice communication. The codes, which were expanded by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials during 1974, allow for brevity and standardization of message traffic.
10-0 Caution
10-1 Unable to copy, change location
10-2 Signal good
10-3 Stop transmitting
10-4 Acknowledgment (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 or 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 and siren
10-40 Silent run, no light or 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 repair 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
10-78 Need assistance
10-79 Notify coroner
10-80 Chase in progress
10-81 Breathalyzer
10-82 Reserve lodging
10-83 Work school crossing at ...
10-84 If meeting ... advise ETA
10-85 Delayed due to ...
10-86 Officer/operator on duty
10-87 Pickup or distribute checks
10-88 Present telephone number of ...
10-89 Bomb threat
10-90 Bank alarm at ...
10-91 Pickup prisoner or subject
10-92 Improperly parked vehicle
10-93 Blockade
10-94 Drag racing
10-95 Prisoner or subject in custody
10-96 Mental subject
10-97 Check signal
10-98 Prison or jail break
10-99 Wanted or stolen indicated
Note: While ten-codes were intended to be a terse and concise and standardized system, a great deal of diversity between departments and jurisdictions in terms of meanings has been reported. All codes listed above are from the Official Ten-Code List of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officers.
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