Police Phonetic Alphabet E: Meaning, Examples and Usage

Here’s what Police Phonetic Alphabet E means:

Police Phonetic Letter	Full Form	When to Use	Example in Action
E	Edward	Used by U.S. police for radio clarity	“Run plate Edward-Delta-107”
E	Echo	Used in international/NATO operations	“Team Echo moving to sector 4”

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What Does Police Phonetic Alphabet E Stand For?

The police letter E stands for:

• Echo (NATO and global emergency services)
• Edward (APCO radiotelephony for U.S. police)

When Is Police Letter E Used in Communication?

Police officers use the letter E in these scenarios:

• Vehicle license plates: “Plate number Edward-Delta-107.”
• Unit identifiers: “Dispatch, this is Unit Edward-21.”
• Location clarification: “Suspect at Building Echo, East Wing.”
• Case notes or reports: “Evidence stored in Room E, Echo Section.”

Example of Police Alphabet E in Action (U.S. – ‘Edward’)

Officer 1: “Dispatch, run plate Edward-Delta-107.”

Dispatch: “Copy, Edward-Delta-107. Standing by.”

Example of Police Alphabet E in Action (International – ‘Echo’)

Control Tower: “Rescue Team Echo, head to Grid 3.”

Rescue Team Echo: “Roger, moving to Grid 3 now.”

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Why Do Police Use ‘Edward’ Instead of Just ‘E’?

Because E over radio can be mistaken for D or V, that’s why “Edward” removes doubt, so messages go through right the first time.

What’s the Difference Between Echo and Edward?

The main difference is the usage in the police phonetic system.

• “Edward” is part of the APCO spelling alphabet, adopted by U.S. police departments.
• Where as, “Echo” belongs to the NATO phonetic alphabet, used by military, aviation, and many emergency services worldwide.

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