Police Phonetic Alphabet V: What it Means, Example and Usage

Here’s what Police Phonetic Alphabet V means:

Police Phonetic Letter	Full Form	When to Use	Example in Action
V	Victor (Intl & US)	Unit callsigns, plates, addresses	Unit Victor‑5 en route

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What Does Police Phonetic Alphabet V Stand For?

The police letter V stands for Victor in the NATO phonetic alphabet and Victor in U.S. law enforcement’s APCO system.

When Is Police Letter V Used in Communication?

Police officers use the letter V in these situations:

• Vehicle license plates: say Victor‑Delta‑102 instead of V‑D‑102
• Unit identifiers: radio in as Victor‑5 for clarity
• Address confirmation: report to Building V as Victor Building
• Evidence logs: store items in Locker V, aka Victor section

Example of Police Alphabet V in Action (U.S. – Victor)

Officer 1: Dispatch this is Victor‑12 at 7th and Main requesting traffic backup
Dispatch: Copy Victor‑12, backup en route

Example of Police Alphabet V in Action (International – Victor)

Control Tower: Rescue team Victor, proceed to Sector 3.
Rescue Team: Acknowledged, moving to Sector 3

Why Do Police Use Victor Instead of Just V?

Because just saying V can sound like B or D over a crackly signal. Using Victor makes the message unmistakable, so no one has to ask you to repeat.

What’s the Difference Between International and U.S. Usage?

Both systems use Victor, but context changes:

• International use follows the NATO standard for all services worldwide
• U.S. policing follows the APCO alphabet, keeping radio chatter consistent at every precinct

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