Ever played cops when you where young? When you would use the walkie, you’d acknowledge your friend’s communication by the “10-4”!
Ten-codes, or ten signals, are code words used by many police officers to aid with voice communication. These police radio codes were developed in 1937 by Charles Hopper, a Police comms director, to allow for brevity, clarity, and standardization of radio channels messages. Old analog radio systems had limited capacity, and the beginning of the message was often lost. Since the first syllable of speech was often not transmitted, the syllable “ten” was determined to be in front of all numeric codes, to ensure that the important information was received.
After any emergency situation, having a radio on hand and being able to catch police frequencies will help you and your family get a better understanding of what’s going on. Having this list somewhere in your emergency survival kit is not a luxury.
Here are the most common meanings for each of these police radio codes. Meaning can vary by locations. Some codes may have multiple meanings depending on where you are. However, this list will help you understand most of what’s going on.
10-0 Use Caution 10-1 Receiving Poorly 10-2 Receiving Clearly 10-3 Stop Transmitting 10-4 Acknowledgement / Well Received 10-5 Relay Message To (someone) 10-6 Busy 10-7 Out Of Service 10-8 In Service 10-9 Repeat Last Message 10-10 Negative 10-11 Dispatching Rapidly / On Duty 10-12 Visitors Present / Standby 10-13 Advise on Weather and/or Road Conditions 10-14 Convoy Or Escort Detail 10-15 Prisoner In Custody / Civil Disturbance 10-16 Pick Up Prisoner (place) / Domestic Trouble 10-17 Pick Up Papers (place) / Meet Complainant 10-18 Complete Assignment ASAP / Urgent 10-19 Return To Station 10-20 Your Location 10-21 Call Station By Phone 10-22 Disregard or Cancel Last Message 10-23 Standby Until Clear / On Scene 10-24 Trouble at Station / Assignment Completed 10-25 In Contact With 10-26 Detaining Suspect 10-27 Check Drivers License 10-28 Check Registration 10-29 Check Records 10-30 Against Rules / Illegal Use of Radio / Danger 10-31 In Pursuit / Crime In Progress 10-32 Person Armed With Gun 10-33 Emergency Stand By 10-34 Trouble at Station / Riot 10-35 Confidential Information / Major Crime 10-36 Provide Time 10-37 Suspicious Vehicle 10-38 Block Road / Traffic Stop 10-39 Message Delivered / Go With Lights & Siren 10-40 Go Silently 10-41 Begin Duty 10-42 Out Of Service / End Duty 10-43 Information 10-44 Permission To Leave Patrol 10-45 Animal Carcass In Lane 10-46 Assist Motorist 10-47 Emergency Road Repair 10-48 Traffic Control 10-49 Traffic Light Out 10-50 Accident / Traffic / Under The Influence (drugs) 10-51 Accident Wrecker Needed / Under The Influence (alcohol) 10-52 Ambulance Needed 10-53 Road Blocked / Fatal Accident 10-54 Possible Fatality / Livestock on Highway 10-55 Intoxicated Driver (DUI) 10-56 Intoxicated Person 10-57 Hit and Run 10-58 Direct Traffic 10-59 Escort or Convoy / Advise If Ambulance Coming 10-60 Squad Close 10-61 Personnel in Area / Subject Not Wanted 10-62 Reply to Message / Subject Wanted 10-63 Prepare to Copy 10-64 Message For Local Delivery 10-65 Can You Copy / Clear Radio For Message Assignment 10-66 Cancel 10-67 Clear Radio For Next Message 10-68 Dispatch Message 10-69 Dispatch Message 10-70 Fire Alarm 10-71 Advise Nature of Fire / Shooting 10-72 Report on Fire Progress / Gun Involved 10-73 Smoke Report 10-74 Negative 10-75 Severe Weather / In Contact 10-76 En Route to Location 10-77 E.T.A. 10-78 Need Assistance 10-79 Notify Coroner 10-80 Pursuit 10-81 Officer At Station 10-83 Call Officer 10-84 E.T.A 10-85 Officer On Duty 10-86 Officer On Duty 10-88 Where Can Be Reached 10-89 Radio Transmission / Bomb Threat 10-90 Alarm 10-91 Pick Up Subject 10-92 Parking Violation 10-93 Frequency Check / Blockage 10-94 Test / Street Racing 10-95 Prisoner in Custody 10-96 Radio-Telephone Patch 10-97 Arrived At Scene / Check Traffic Signal 10-98 Prison Break 10-99 Unable Receive Signal / Cardiac Arrest / Officer Held Hostage / Wanted or Stolen 10-100 Alert-Remain Contact With 10-101 Log On Digital / Ending Security Check 10-102 Log Off Digital / Animal Cruelty 10-103 Disturbance 10-104 Computer System Down 10-105 Send Jail Wagon 10-106 Medical Assistance Needed / Obsenity 10-107 Suspicious Person 10-108 Officer In Danger / Down 10-109 Suicide 10-110 Juvenile Disturbance 10-112 Impersonating An Officer
