Decoding Dispatcher language

[Smokepipe]

I'm new at listening to the police broadcasts, and have repeatedly heard the dispatch operator in San Diego say something that sounds like "seshnay" Does anyone know what they are actually saying and what it means?

[carlt]

If what you heard was at the end of the dispatcher talking, they most likely said "STATION A". They generally mumble it, since everyone listening should know who it is. FYI every dispatch in the county has an assigned "Station" ID.

[inigo88]

Yep. "Station A."

SDFD is "Station F."
San Diego Sheriff's Dept is "Station M."
Harbor PD is "Station H."

And all the other city PDs you'll hear on the RCS (even the university and school PDs) have a station ID used to identify the dispatch center. They all use a single letter except for La Mesa PD, which is "Station 1." I have no idea what the historical context is behind that one. Also some departments use the same letter, which is confusing.

[K6CDO]

If I recall correctly, the "Station" IDs date back to when there was one shared AM transmitter on 17xx kHz to serve San Diego County. Various dispatch locations time-shared the signal to receiver-equipped cars who would call in on the phone to let their dispatcher know what the status was.

As comms moved to FM, many agencies coordinated on a wireline version of today's Law CC and Fire CC talkgroups, where those on the circuit would address each other by the letter only (e.g.: "'A' to 'T'. 11-83 on 94 at Federal westbound." Station T was CHP.)

[MtnBiker2005]

Escondido PD is also "Station H."


http://www.scandiego.com/docs/stationx.htm

[inigo88]

Originally Posted by MtnBiker2005

Escondido PD is also "Station H."


SCANDIEGO.COM San Diego County STATION Identifiers

Exactly. "Station C" is also used by both Carlsbad PD and Chula Vista PD, and "Station K" is used by El Cajon PD and San Diego School district PD. "Station U" (blank on scandiego) is UCSD.

[inigo88]

Originally Posted by K6CDO

If I recall correctly, the "Station" IDs date back to when there was one shared AM transmitter on 17xx kHz to serve San Diego County. Various dispatch locations time-shared the signal to receiver-equipped cars who would call in on the phone to let their dispatcher know what the status was.

As comms moved to FM, many agencies coordinated on a wireline version of today's Law CC and Fire CC talkgroups, where those on the circuit would address each other by the letter only (e.g.: "'A' to 'T'. 11-83 on 94 at Federal westbound." Station T was CHP.)

I knew you'd have the answer, and I suspected it was that old. Thanks!

[Anderegg]

I like National City PD....."Station Q".

Paul

[CommLt]

I used to be with station "R".

[Smokepipe]

Originally Posted by carlt

If what you heard was at the end of the dispatcher talking, they most likely said "STATION A". They generally mumble it, since everyone listening should know who it is. FYI every dispatch in the county has an assigned "Station" ID.

Thanks! Listening closer now, I can definitely hear that

[Anderegg]

I swear to God 50% of the time SDFD dispatches medical aids, they say "7 A, tac 7 F".......

Paul

[K6CDO]

Originally Posted by Anderegg

I swear to God 50% of the time SDFD dispatches medical aids, they say "7 A, tac 7 F".......

Paul

Yeah, I wish they would mumble it phonetically instead...

[inigo88]

Originally Posted by K6CDO

Yeah, I wish they would mumble it phonetically instead...

I concur! Some of them do though, the good ones.

[Anderegg]

One of the codes that gets to me is DV. When I moved to LA to work, they use the term DB for 11-44, meaning dead body. When I came back to SD, I had to get used to DV again, and even though I know what it is, it still sounds like 11-44 to my brain after years of working in LA. Weird how police codes can rewire your brain.

Some other LA codes of interest, "Code 37 V victor" is a stolen car, "Following" means behind a stolen car, an RP is a PR, and an "RA" is a Rescue Ambulance........so in Los Angeles they have an ambulance called "Rescue 4"......very irritating!

Paul

Paul

[inigo88]

Code 37V is used in San Diego as well, but it depends on context.

[Anderegg]

Yeah, Code 37 is basically "wanted", and the V is for a car. I like the LA County Sheriff's code for dead guy....."Zero retention", heh.

Paul

[PaulNDaOC]

Originally Posted by Anderegg

Yeah, Code 37 is basically "wanted", and the V is for a car. I like the LA County Sheriff's code for dead guy....."Zero retention", heh.

Paul

Retention is how long the file is retained, and is the first number in the file number. the zero indicates it will never be destroyed.