All Radio List Association of Public Safety Communication Official International APCO Police Ten Codes

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The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International (APCO) is the world’s largest organization dedicated to advancing public safety communications. Since its establishment in 1935, APCO has played a pivotal role in creating communication standards, including the widely recognized police ten codes or (10-codes signals). These codes are a universal shorthand used to improve efficiency and clarity in law enforcement and emergency services communications.

What Are Association of Public Safety Communication Official International APCO Police Ten Codes?

APCO police ten codes, developed in the 1940s, are a set of numeric signals used to streamline communication across law enforcement and emergency response agencies. These codes reduce miscommunication and ensure brevity, particularly in high-pressure scenarios.

Key Features of APCO Ten Codes:

• Standardized Communication: Simplifies dialogue between officers, dispatchers, and other personnel.
• Global Relevance: While primarily used in the U.S., variations exist worldwide.
• Time Efficiency: Reduces the time needed for detailed instructions.

For example, instead of saying, “I didn’t understand your last transmission,” an officer might say, “10-1” (Unable to Copy).

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A Quick History of APCO

APCO began with the mission to solve communication challenges in public safety. Over the decades, it has expanded its scope to include digital advancements like Next Generation 911 (NG911).
Here are some milestones:

• 1935: Founded in Daytona Beach, Florida.
• 1940s: Introduced the ten codes for better communication.
• 2000s: Transitioned into digital communication and NG911 systems.
• 2024: Membership reached 40,758, showing a 3% growth compared to 2023.

APCO Membership Snapshot (2024):

• Full Members: 4,006
• Associate Members: 1,975
• Online Agency Members: 24,227
• Total Individual Members: 40,758

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How APCO Police Ten Codes Are Used Today

Although police 10 codes were initially designed for law enforcement, they are now used in various fields, including:

• Fire Services
• Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
• Private Security Agencies

While some agencies prefer plain language for clarity, many still use ten codes for their conciseness and universality.

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Comprehensive List of APCO Police Ten Codes

Here’s a list of all used APCO ten codes:

APCO Police Code	Meaning	When to Use	Example in Action
10-0	Use Caution	When approaching a potentially dangerous situation.	Officer 1: “Dispatch, 10-0 at 5th Street. Proceed with caution.”
10-1	Signal Weak	When radio signal is weak.	Officer 2: “Dispatch, 10-1. Signal weak, please repeat.”
10-2	Signal Good	When radio signal is strong and clear.	Officer 3: “Dispatch, 10-2. Signal is good, over.”
10-3	Stop Transmitting	When an officer needs another officer to stop transmitting.	Officer 4: “Dispatch, 10-3. Stop transmitting, I’ll handle this.”
10-4	Affirmative (OK)	To acknowledge receipt of a message or signal of confirmation.	Officer 5: “Dispatch, 10-4, received the message.”
10-5	Relay To/From	To pass on a message or information from one officer to another.	Officer 6: “10-5, dispatch, relay message to Unit 7.”
10-6	Busy	When an officer is occupied and cannot respond immediately.	Officer 7: “Dispatch, 10-6. Currently busy with traffic stop.”
10-7	Out of Service	When an officer is not available for service.	Officer 8: “Dispatch, 10-7. Off-duty and unavailable.”
10-8	In Service	When an officer is available for service.	Officer 9: “Dispatch, 10-8. Available and in service.”
10-9	Say Again	When the officer didn’t hear a message clearly and needs it repeated.	Officer 10: “Dispatch, 10-9. Could you say that again?”
10-10	Negative	Indicates that the answer is no or a response is negative.	Officer 11: “Dispatch, 10-10. No, I do not need backup.”
10-11	___ On Duty (Employee Number)	When officers are reporting for duty	Officer reports: “10-11, Officer 234”
10-12	Stand By (Stop)	When waiting for further instructions or when a situation is paused	Dispatcher tells officer: “10-12, stand by for updates”
10-13	Weather Conditions	Reporting the current weather status	Officer reports: “10-13, it’s snowing heavily in the area”
10-14	Message/Information	When relaying a message or info to another officer	Dispatcher says: “10-14, pass the message to Officer 123”
10-15	Message Delivered	Indicates that a message has been delivered successfully	Officer says: “10-15, message delivered to the unit”
10-16	Reply to Message	When an officer needs to respond to a previous message	Officer replies: “10-16, Roger that, message received”
10-17	Enroute	When an officer is on their way to the specified location	Officer says: “10-17, enroute to the scene”
10-18	Urgent	Indicates that a situation requires immediate attention	Dispatcher orders: “10-18, urgent, proceed immediately”
10-19	(In) Contact	Indicates that contact has been made	Officer reports: “10-19, I am in contact with the suspect”
10-20	Location	Asking for or reporting location	Officer asks: “10-20, what is your location?”
10-21	Call ( ) by Phone	Indicates to call a specific person or location by phone	Dispatcher instructs: “10-21, call the station by phone”
10-22	Disregard	Indicates to disregard the previous instruction or message	Officer reports: “10-22, disregard the last message”
10-23	Arrived at Scene	Indicates that the officer has arrived at the location	Officer says: “10-23, I’ve arrived at the scene”
10-24	Assignment Completed	Indicates that the assigned task is finished	Officer reports: “10-24, assignment completed”
10-25	Report to (Meet)	Indicates that an officer is reporting to meet another	Officer says: “10-25, reporting to meet with Sergeant”
10-26	Estimated Arrival Time (ETA)	Indicates an estimated time of arrival at the location	Officer reports: “10-26, ETA 10 minutes”
10-27	License / Permit Information	Requests or provides information about a license or permit	Officer asks: “10-27, requesting driver’s license info”
10-28	Vehicle Information	Requests or provides vehicle-related information	Officer asks: “10-28, requesting vehicle registration info”
10-29	Records Check	Indicates a check of criminal records or other relevant records	Officer requests: “10-29, performing records check on suspect”
10-30	Danger / Caution	Alerts that a potentially dangerous or hazardous situation is present	Officer reports: “10-30, caution advised, suspect armed”
10-31	Pick Up	Indicates a request to pick up an item or individual	Officer says: “10-31, requesting prisoner pickup”
10-32	___Units Needed (Specify)	Indicates the number of units needed for a situation	Officer reports: “10-32, requesting 3 units for backup”
10-33	Need Immediate Assistance	Indicates a request for urgent help	Officer urgently reports: “10-33, need immediate assistance”
10-34	Current Time	Indicates the current time, often used for logs	Dispatcher asks: “10-34, what is the current time?”
10-40	Fight in Progress	Indicates a fight or violent altercation is happening	Officer reports: “10-40, fight in progress at 5th Street”
10-41	Beginning Tour of Duty	Indicates that an officer is starting their shift	Officer says: “10-41, beginning my tour of duty”
10-42	Ending Tour of Duty	Indicates that an officer is ending their shift	Officer says: I am “10-42, ending my shift”
10-43	In Pursuit	Indicates that an officer is in pursuit of a suspect	Officer reports: “10-43, in pursuit of suspect vehicle”
10-44	Riot	Indicates that a riot or large disturbance is occurring	Officer reports: “10-44, riot in progress at 10th Avenue”
10-45	Bomb Threat	Indicates a bomb threat has been made	Officer reports: “10-45, bomb threat received at City Hall”
10-46	Bank Alarm	Indicates that a bank alarm has been triggered	Officer reports: “10-46, bank alarm triggered at National Bank”
10-47	Complete Assignment Quickly	Indicates an urgent need to finish a task swiftly	Officer reports: “10-47, complete assignment quickly, over.”
10-48	Detaining Suspect, Expedite	Indicates a suspect is detained and assistance is required urgently	Officer reports: “10-48, detaining suspect, expedite backup.”
10-49	Drag Racing	Used to report illegal drag racing activities	Officer reports: “10-49, drag racing at Main St and Oak Ave.”
10-50	Vehicle Accident	Used when there is a vehicle accident	Officer reports: “10-50, vehicle accident with property damage at 5th and Elm.”
10-51	Dispatch Wrecker	Indicates that a wrecker is needed at the scene of an accident	Officer reports: “10-51, dispatch a wrecker to 3rd and Pine.”
10-52	Dispatch Ambulance	Indicates that an ambulance is needed	Officer reports: “10-52, dispatch an ambulance to the accident scene.”
10-53	Road Blocked	Indicates that a road is blocked	Officer reports: “10-53, road blocked at 7th and Main due to accident.”
10-54	Hit and Run Accident	Indicates a hit-and-run incident	Officer reports: “10-54, hit and run accident at the intersection of Oak and 2nd.”
10-55	Intoxicated Driver	Indicates a suspected drunk driver	Officer reports: “10-55, suspect driver is intoxicated, heading west on Highway 4.”
10-56	Intoxicated Pedestrian	Indicates an intoxicated pedestrian	Officer reports: “10-56, intoxicated pedestrian at Main and 3rd.”
10-57	Request BT Operator	Indicates the need for a Breath Test (BT) operator	Officer reports: “10-57, request BT operator at 5th and Oak.”
10-58	Direct Traffic	Used to request directing traffic at a scene	Officer reports: “10-58, direct traffic at the scene of the accident.”
10-59	Escort	Indicates a need for an escort, usually for dignitaries or special events	Officer reports: “10-59, escort VIP from airport to downtown.”
10-60	Suspicious Vehicle	Indicates that a vehicle is acting suspiciously	Officer reports: “10-60, suspicious vehicle at the corner of Elm and 4th.”
10-61	Stopping Suspicious Vehicle	Indicates a stop of a suspicious vehicle	Officer reports: “10-61, stopping suspicious vehicle near Pine and 6th.”
10-62	B and E in Progress (Breaking & Entering)	Indicates a break-in is occurring at a location	Officer reports: “10-62, B and E in progress at 101 Maple St.”
10-63	Prepare to Receive an Assignment	Indicates readiness to receive new assignments	Officer reports: “10-63, preparing to receive assignment.”
10-64	Crime in Progress	Indicates a crime is actively happening	Officer reports: “10-64, crime in progress at 4th and Maple.”
10-65	Armed Robbery	Indicates an armed robbery is in progress	Officer reports: “10-65, armed robbery at the corner of 5th and Oak.”
10-66	Notify Medical Examiner	Indicates the need to notify a medical examiner for an incident	Officer reports: “10-66, notify medical examiner for a deceased person at 7th and Pine.”
10-67	Report of Death	Indicates a report of a death has been received	Officer reports: “10-67, report of death at 123 Oak St.”
10-68	Livestock in Roadway	Indicates livestock on the road that may be causing a hazard	Officer reports: “10-68, livestock in the roadway at 8th and Elm.”
10-69	Advise Telephone Number	Indicates the need to provide a telephone number	Officer reports: “10-69, advise telephone number for follow-up.”
10-70	Improper Parked Vehicle	Indicates a vehicle is improperly parked	Officer reports: “10-70, vehicle improperly parked at 2nd and Pine.”
10-71	Improper Use of Radio	Indicates misuse of radio communications	Officer reports: “10-71, improper use of radio by unit 22.”
10-72	Prisoner in Custody	Indicates a suspect is in custody	Officer reports: “10-72, prisoner in custody at Main St.”
10-73	Mental Subject	Indicates a person with a mental health issue	Officer reports: “10-73, mental subject at 9th and Oak.”
10-74	Prison / Jail Break	Indicates a breakout from prison or jail	Officer reports: “10-74, prison break at Oak Hill Correctional.”
10-75	Wanted or Stolen	Indicates a wanted suspect or stolen item	Officer reports: “10-75, wanted fugitive spotted at 5th and Main.”
10-76	Alarm	Indicates an alarm has been triggered at a location	Officer reports: “10-76, alarm triggered at the jewelry store on Elm.”
10-77	Check the Welfare of a Person	Indicates checking on someone’s well-being	Officer reports: “10-77, checking welfare of elderly person at 12th and Oak.”
10-78	Notify Coroner	Indicates the need to notify the coroner	Officer reports: “10-78, notify coroner for a deceased person at Pine St.”
10-79	Notify the Press	Indicates the need to notify the press about an event	Officer reports: “10-79, notify press about major traffic incident at 6th.”
10-80	Fire Alarm	Indicates a fire alarm has been triggered	Officer reports: “10-80, fire alarm at Main Street building.”
10-81	Nature of Fire	Indicates the type or cause of fire	Officer reports: “10-81, electrical fire at Maple Avenue.”
10-82	Fire in Progress	Indicates a fire currently in progress	Officer reports: “10-82, large fire in progress at Elm and 2nd.”
10-83	Smoke Visible	Indicates visible smoke but no active flames	Officer reports: “10-83, smoke visible near Pine and 5th.”
10-84	No Smoke Visible	Indicates no visible smoke or fire	Officer reports: “10-84, no smoke visible at reported location.”
10-85	Respond without Blue Lights / Siren	Indicates to respond discreetly, without lights or sirens	Officer reports: “10-85, responding without blue lights or sirens to 3rd and Walnut.”

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Global Usage of APCO Police Ten Codes

Did you know that APCO ten codes are not universally standardized? While most U.S. agencies use these codes, their interpretation can vary:

• Canada: Some agencies adapt ten codes with local variations.
• United Kingdom: Uses plain language more frequently but incorporates some numeric codes.
• Australia: Employs radio communication standards, including numeric codes like APCO’s.

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Are APCO Ten Codes Still Relevant?

In recent years, some agencies have moved toward plain language to avoid confusion, especially during multi-agency responses. However, APCO ten codes remain invaluable in:

• Routine Communication: Officers can quickly exchange information without lengthy explanations.
• Sensitive Operations: Codes maintain discretion, particularly during covert operations.

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Events and Training by APCO

To ensure effective communication, APCO offers various training programs:

• Annual Conference & Expo: Over 5,000 attendees annually.
• Online Training Modules: Covering radio communication, NG911, and ten code usage.
• Workshops: Focused on interoperability and emergency response strategies.

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