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
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