Police codes are shorthand used in public safety communication, scanner traffic, dispatch logs, and some legal-code references. This guide gives you one place to start when you want the common meaning behind a code, plus the pages that add more context.
Meanings can vary by agency and region, so this page focuses on common public meanings and practical context rather than claiming one universal definition.
Search Police Codes
Search common police codes by number, meaning, or keyword.
Message received or acknowledged
Common acknowledgment used on many radio channels.
Location
Used to ask where a unit or person is located.
Out of service
A short status update that the unit is unavailable.
In service or available
Used when a unit is back and ready for calls.
Emergency traffic
Often used to clear the channel for urgent messages.
Emergency response
Usually indicates a high-priority emergency response.
No further assistance needed
Commonly used when a scene is under control.
Officer needs help
A serious call that often signals urgent assistance.
Homicide reference
Most commonly tied to California homicide references.
Robbery reference
Often used as shorthand for robbery in California context.
Disturbing the peace
A common reference for disturbance-related calls.
Burglary reference
Common shorthand for burglary-related references.
Mental health hold reference
Usually tied to California mental health hold context.
Prisoner in custody
Often heard after an arrest or during transport.
Suicide or suicide attempt
Commonly used for urgent crisis-related traffic.
Deceased person / possible fatality
Often tied to death or possible death on scene.
Attempted suicide or suicide
Commonly tied to crisis-related calls.
Bomb threat
High-priority public safety call.
Animal bite complaint
Often a lower-acuity call, but still important.
Accident / ambulance call
Often used for accident or ambulance-related calls.
Officer down / urgent help
Common high-priority emergency call.
Commonly associated with 10-20
Search intent page for the location query.
Commonly associated with 11-99
Search intent page for urgent officer assistance.
Commonly associated with Code 3
Search intent page for emergency response queries.
Commonly associated with Code 4
Search intent page for scene-controlled calls.
Commonly associated with 211
Search intent page for robbery references.
Commonly associated with 415
Search intent page for disturbance references.
Commonly associated with 459
Search intent page for burglary references.
California scanner, 10-code, response-code, and penal-code context
Guide page for California scanner context.
Texas scanner and local radio code context
Guide page for Texas scanner context.
Whether police still use 10 codes
Guide page for current 10-code usage.
Why police code meanings differ
Guide page for code variation context.
Difference between scanner codes and penal codes
Guide page for scanner and penal code differences.
No matching code found. Try searching by another code, meaning, or keyword.
Code meanings can vary by department, region, and policy. These are common public meanings, not official agency definitions.
Most Looked-Up Police Codes
Police 10 Codes
Police 10 codes are the most familiar public safety shorthand for many readers. They are often used in radio communication for acknowledgment, location, status, and emergency traffic.
- Police 10 Codes for the main list and deeper context.
- 10-4 for acknowledgment or message received.
- 10-20 for location.
- 10-7 for out of service.
- 10-8 for in service or available.
- 10-33 for emergency traffic.
Police 11 Codes
Police 11 codes are less universal than 10 codes, but they still matter in places where agencies use them for officer status, incidents, and urgent assistance.
- Police 11 Codes for the full guide.
- 11-99 for officer needs help.
Police Scanner Codes
Scanner codes include 10 codes, 11 codes, response codes, plain-language dispatch terms, and some local agency shorthand. If you are listening to a scanner, context matters as much as the number itself.
- Police Scanner Codes for the main scanner guide.
- Code 3 for emergency response.
- Code 4 for no further assistance needed.
California Code References
California code references are often legal-code references, not universal radio codes. They can appear in scanner traffic or public safety discussion, but they should be checked against current law when the legal meaning matters.
- California Penal Codes for the main guide.
- 187 for homicide reference.
- 211 for robbery reference.
- 415 for disturbing the peace.
- 459 for burglary reference.
- 5150 for mental health hold reference.
Texas Code References
Texas pages on this site group the local radio and code references that readers most often search for. The key point is the same: local practice matters, and a code may not mean exactly the same thing in every department.
- Texas Police Codes for the main Texas guide.
Popular Police Code Meanings
These are common public meanings readers often search for first.
- 10-4 – message received.
- 10-20 – location.
- Code 3 – emergency response.
- Code 4 – no further help needed.
- 11-99 – officer needs help.
- 187 – homicide reference.
- 211 – robbery reference.
- 415 – disturbing the peace.
- 5150 – mental health hold reference.
Why meanings vary
Meanings vary because agencies may use local policy, state-specific practice, plain-language dispatch, or older code books that are not shared across jurisdictions. Scanner listeners may also hear a code used differently than officers use it in day-to-day operations.
Learn How Police Codes Work
If you are learning the site from the hub page, these support pages explain the context behind common searches and show how the same number can mean different things by region or by code type.
- California Police Scanner Codes for California scanner context.
- Texas Police Scanner Codes for Texas radio context.
- Do Police Still Use 10 Codes? for current 10-code usage.
- Why Police Code Meanings Vary for local and regional differences.
- Police Scanner Codes vs Penal Codes for the radio-versus-legal distinction.
Popular Police Code Questions
If you are searching by meaning instead of a number, start with these intent pages and then move back to the main hub when you want the broader index.
- Police Code for Location
- Police Code for Officer Needs Help
- Police Code for Emergency Response
- Police Code for No Further Assistance
- Police Code for Robbery
- Police Code for Disturbing the Peace
- Police Code for Burglary
Police Code Guides
FAQ
Are police codes the same everywhere?
No. Some codes are widely recognized, but many are local or regional. Always expect variation by department or state.
Are 10 codes still used?
Yes, many agencies still use 10 codes, even if some have moved to more plain-language communication.
What is the difference between scanner codes and penal codes?
Scanner codes are communication shorthand. Penal codes are legal references to laws or statute sections.
Can police code meanings change?
Yes. A department can revise a code book, change radio policy, or adopt plain-language procedures that alter how a code is used.
Is this site an official source?
No. The site is informational and focuses on common public meanings and practical context.
What is the best way to find a code meaning?
Start with the lookup tool above, then move to the guide page that matches the code family or state reference you are seeing.
Why do some codes have different meanings online?
Different websites may mix scanner shorthand, local police practice, and legal-code references. That is why context matters.