10-56 (also written 1056 or 10/56) is a police radio code that means suicide in some California agencies’ code lists and intoxicated pedestrian in others.
In San Jose Police Department’s code list, 10-56 is suicide. The Atherton, Belmont, Cotati and Sebastopol police departments list it the same way. In Ogden City Police Department’s list, which uses the State of Utah 10-code list, 10-56 is intoxicated pedestrian.
What 10-56 means
Atherton, Belmont, Cotati, San Jose and Sebastopol police departments all list it as suicide, and each also has a 10-56A entry, described below.
A second group of lists uses it for intoxicated pedestrian. Wayne County Sheriff in Indiana and Ogden City Police Department in Utah list it that way.
If this topic affects you or someone you know: in the United States, people can call, text or chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing or texting 988. The Lifeline says the service is free, confidential and available 24/7.
10-56 meaning by agency
Here is how each agency or list words the code.
| Agency or list | What 10-56 means | Source |
|---|---|---|
| APCO standard list (1974) | Not assigned. The 1974 list ends at 10-39; agencies choose their own codes from 10-40 up. | APCO 1974 brevity code |
| Atherton Police Department (CA) | SuicideAlso 10-56A: attempted suicide | Atherton PD dispatch manual |
| Belmont Police Department (CA) | SuicideAlso 10-56A: attempted suicide | Belmont PD dispatcher manual |
| Cotati Police Department (CA) | SuicideAlso 10-56A: attempted suicide | Cotati PD communications manual |
| San Jose Police Department (CA) | SuicideAlso 10-56A: attempted suicide | San Jose PD 10-code guide |
| Sebastopol Police Department (CA) | SuicideAlso 10-56A: attempted suicide | Sebastopol PD dispatch manual |
| Coral Springs Police Department (FL) | Meet at/with | Coral Springs PD ten codes |
| Lake County Sheriff's Office (FL) | Meet at ___ | Lake County Sheriff 10-codes |
| Volusia Sheriff's Office (FL) | Meet ___ at ___ | Volusia Sheriff 10-codes |
| Wayne County Sheriff (IN) | Intoxicated pedestrian | Wayne County Sheriff 10-codes |
| Ogden City Police Department (UT) | Intoxicated pedestrianUses the State of Utah 10-code list | Ogden PD policy 25 |
Across the lists there are three different meanings: suicide, intoxicated pedestrian, and meet at. The APCO 1974 list leaves the code unassigned.
Why 10-56 means different things
The APCO 1974 list does not assign 10-56: “Not assigned. The 1974 list ends at 10-39; agencies choose their own codes from 10-40 up.” The list itself says: “Any user may employ signal numbers upward beginning with 10-40 as may best suit his own needs.”
Because 10-56 is above that line, each agency sets its own meaning, which is why the lists give unrelated meanings. For other ten-codes, see our full list of 10 codes.
What 10-56A means
The San Jose, Sebastopol, Atherton, Belmont and Cotati police departments each add the note “Also 10-56A: attempted suicide”. In those five lists, the plain code and the lettered code are separate meanings: 10-56 is suicide and 10-56A is attempted suicide. None of the other lists notes a lettered version.
How 10-56 is used on the radio
In the five lists with a lettered version, the letter A after the number is what changes the meaning.
The same number can also be a simple instruction. For example, in a list where 10-56 means “meet at”, a dispatcher might say: “Unit 4, 10-56 at the station.” Because the meaning depends on the list, the agency’s own code list is the one to check.
FAQ
What is a 10-56?
It is a ten-code whose meaning depends on the agency. In San Jose Police Department's code list it means suicide, while in Ogden City Police Department's list it means intoxicated pedestrian.
What does 10-56A mean?
In the San Jose, Sebastopol, Atherton, Belmont and Cotati police department lists, 10-56A means attempted suicide. Each list gives it as a note beside its suicide entry.
Why does 10-56 mean suicide in some places and intoxicated pedestrian in others?
The APCO 1974 ten signal list ends at 10-39 and leaves 10-40 and up to each agency. Agencies therefore chose their own meanings for 10-56, and the lists show suicide, intoxicated pedestrian and meet at.
What does 10-56 mean in some Florida agencies' codes?
In Coral Springs Police Department's list, 10-56 means meet at/with. Lake County Sheriff's Office lists it as meet at, and Volusia Sheriff's Office lists it as meet, then a name, at a place.
Sources
- Public Safety Communication Aural Brevity Code (APCO Project 14, Exhibit No. 7, p. 60), APCO (Associated Public-Safety Communications Officers). Updated 1974. Standard list Checked October 2026
- Dispatch Training Manual 2020, Atherton Police Department. Updated 2-2020. Official Checked October 2026
- Dispatcher Training Manual, Belmont Police Department. Updated June 21, 2019. Official Checked October 2026
- Communications and Records Training Manual, Cotati Police Department. Official Checked October 2026
- SJPD 10-Codes (study guide), San Jose Police Department. Updated 10/15/18. Official Checked October 2026
- Dispatch Training Manual, Sebastopol Police Department. Updated April 28, 2022. Official Checked October 2026
- Ten Codes (Communications), Coral Springs Police Department. Official Checked October 2026
- 10 Codes and Signals, Lake County Sheriff's Office. Official Checked October 2026
- 10-Codes and Signals, Volusia Sheriff's Office. Official Checked October 2026
- Signal and 10 Codes, Wayne County Sheriff (Indiana). Official Checked October 2026
- Policy 25: Use of Police Radio, Ogden City Police Department. Updated May 16, 2022. Official Checked October 2026
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (SAMHSA). Official Checked October 2026