Expert: Loren Stevens - 8/15/2005

Question
I am writing a novel that concerns a police character calling in for backup reinforcements. I don't know how such a call would begin, and if there might be a code or if the dispatch officer would automatically know who was calling in. Can you point me in the right direction to make my novel as realistic as possible?
Thanks.

Answer
Hi Coleen,
You might try "google" on either the police 400 code series, or ten-code. Alot depends on what part of the country your story takes place in, coupled with the era, or general decade.
When officers receive a call from dispatch for an assignment, they enitially respond with their location. After they get the call, their receipt is just their call sign. In Patrol, the first number is usually your shift, with grave shift being #1, day shift #2 and swing shift #3. There are other designators for backup shifts. The next symbol is usually a letter, that corresponds to a sector   of a jurisdiction, and the last designator is the grid of that sector ie, cut in quarters with 1 and 2 being the upper grids, and 3 and 4 being the lower grids.
When the unit initially answeres with their location, that tells the dispatcher about the distance/time it will take that unit to get to the call. Other units may chime in, if they are closer, or not tied up in traffic.
Sooooo, if I am working swing shift, in the "A" or Able district, assigned to the north east part of that area, my call sign would be: " 3ABLE2". If I am the only car in that area assigned, I'd be "3ABLE".If I'm working that district the southern half, I'd be "3ABLE34". Sometimes other pheonitcs are used eg, the TV series: "ADAM 12" On day shift, they would be "2ADAM12" OK?
Example oof a 4-code request for assistance would be: "Controll, 3ABLE34 requests backup" Or, 422 (injured officer down) or 444 (officer needs assistance/unknown trouble) Sometimes, the officers just blurt it out with urgency. Most "salty" dispatchers KNOW who is who in the field by their voice, or radio procedure (or lack thereof) They use call signs as an FCC requirement.
It just depends on the nature of the help needed, and the urgency.
This is for PATROL units. K-9, Traffic, Detectives, criminalitics etc have their own assigned designators. Alot depends on the size of the agency too.
Hope I helped, if I missed something or you need more, let me know...good luck,
loren