Police Phonetic Alphabet P: Meaning, Usage, and Example

Here’s what Police Phonetic Alphabet P means:

Police Phonetic Letter	Full Form	When to Use	Example in Action
P	Papa	Used in NATO and international services	Rescue Team Papa proceed to Sector 7
P	Paul	Used by US police for radio clarity	Unit Paul-5 requesting status update

---

What Does Police Phonetic Alphabet P Stand For?

The police letter P stands for:

• Papa (used internationally by NATO and many emergency services)
• Paul (commonly used by US law enforcement radio systems)

When Is Police Letter P Used in Communication?

Police officers use the letter P in these scenarios:

• Vehicle license plates: Plate number Paul-Delta-789
• Unit identifiers: Report in as Car Paul-4
• Address clarification: Apartment Paul on Fifth Street
• Case notes or reports: Evidence stored in Locker Papa Section

Example of Police Alphabet P in Action (US – Paul)

Officer 1: Dispatch this is Unit Paul-5 requesting status on a 10-28 at Sixth and Pine
Dispatch: Copy Paul-5 stand by for status update

Example of Police Alphabet P in Action (International – Papa)

Control Room: Rescue Team Papa proceed to Sector 7
Rescue Team Papa: Acknowledged moving to Sector 7

---

Why Do Police Use Paul Instead of Just P?

Because saying just the letter P can be mistaken for B or T over a crackling radio. Using Paul gives clarity—no confusion, no repeats.

What’s the Difference Between Papa and Paul?

• Paul belongs to the APCO radiotelephony spelling alphabet, favored by US police departments
• Papa is part of the NATO phonetic alphabet, used by military, aviation, and global emergency services

---

FAQ