Dallas Police Department dropping police code for plain English
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Matt93
Member
I just posted the same article in the "Everything Else" forum.
Plain english can be confusing as well. When a cop asks for "cover" it means something completely different to a National Guard unit. I think that this actually happened during the riots following the first Rodney King trial but I can't find anything online to support this story right now.
In all reality, this will be not much different than how things go now. After 531 dispatches a call, for instance after assigning a 6X (major disturbance) the dispatcher (531) usually reads the notes on the call, explaining what is going on, and this is done in plain talk. The biggest change will be seen when marking out on lunch breaks, investigations, and follow up investigations. just my 2 cents
I'd agree with you completely on this. If they ever get the mdt's fixed, the follow-up mark outs may end up being done mostly through them.
In Dallas PD, there's never been a doubt I've heard expressed on the radio, in 30+ years years scanning them, about what an element meant when he or she asked for "cover".DDan said:
There seems to be a bit of misunderstanding here. Codes were never a primitive form of encryption, they were used for brevity. In a situation or system where high traffic volume is encountered the last thing you need is a long winded explanation but with today's multichannel systems such bottlenecks have been largely eliminated.
The problem is, Dallas has a in-house code system that is completely different from other cities or the State. a 7x (Major Accident) is a 44 for Richardson or a 10-50 for DPS or agencies using DPS 10-codes. The Dallas Police Department wants new recruit desperately. some of the potential's might come from down south where "That's Clear" replaces "Received" so I guess to speed up the training and place new rookies on the street, cutting the Radio class to "Push the button to talk, let it go to listen and use plain English" get's them out on the streets a few days quicker.
cifd64
Member
Hate to break it to you MaxTracker, but EVERY City is different. NIMS Protocols originally asked for the elimination of 10-codes. But due to relentless pressure from PBA's and firefighter unions the issue was dropped and made as an option, not a mandate.
In Suffolk County (NY) a 10-13 means call your command. In NYC it means Officer in Distress. A 10-1 in Suffolk Means Officer in Distress and in NYC means Call your Command. Go figure.
In Suffolk County (NY) a 10-13 means call your command. In NYC it means Officer in Distress. A 10-1 in Suffolk Means Officer in Distress and in NYC means Call your Command. Go figure.
To the military it means a high volume of fire, the whole phrase is Cover Fire!
benjaminfs733
Member
Unfortunately my city dropped our 10-CODES about 2 years ago for the perceived plain language mandate that had been repealed. Now, a dispatcher will just reply, so and so is wanted, and the subject who I just ran looks at me to see if I am as ready to catch him as he is to run, oh well.
As mentioned before, everywhere has their own learning curve. When coming to my town you need to quickly understand the following: SO, CRT, ERIT, ACSP, CSP, MedCOM, WKU, CSX, KSP, KVE, LINK, NCIC, PS1, PS1, ACSU, CCSU, PeperBall, APO, MPO, District 10, 20, etc. and countless other abbreviations unique to our area. We used to have a county wide 10 code system, but it was scrapped. I agreed with many of the codes going by the way side, but many need to remain the same for brevity and uniformity. For example we used to say 10-9 for repeat. Now, many officers will say re-advise. But one of our Majors does not like that so we struggle to come up with something to replace it. What I have found is that codes often are void of specific meaning, they can be plural, singular, passive, in a future tense or anything that the situation needs. It is more difficult to think of what you need when you feel the need to make what you are saying make since in a verbal form.
Thanks for letting me vent.
As mentioned before, everywhere has their own learning curve. When coming to my town you need to quickly understand the following: SO, CRT, ERIT, ACSP, CSP, MedCOM, WKU, CSX, KSP, KVE, LINK, NCIC, PS1, PS1, ACSU, CCSU, PeperBall, APO, MPO, District 10, 20, etc. and countless other abbreviations unique to our area. We used to have a county wide 10 code system, but it was scrapped. I agreed with many of the codes going by the way side, but many need to remain the same for brevity and uniformity. For example we used to say 10-9 for repeat. Now, many officers will say re-advise. But one of our Majors does not like that so we struggle to come up with something to replace it. What I have found is that codes often are void of specific meaning, they can be plural, singular, passive, in a future tense or anything that the situation needs. It is more difficult to think of what you need when you feel the need to make what you are saying make since in a verbal form.
Thanks for letting me vent.
RedPenguin
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Wow....
What amazes me is how in this case the PD's are not that far apart and probably work together at times. That must be some interesting confusion, some officers think they need to call command when an officer needs help or vice versa.
What amazes me is how in this case the PD's are not that far apart and probably work together at times. That must be some interesting confusion, some officers think they need to call command when an officer needs help or vice versa.
cifd64
Member
They really dont work together much. Nassau County is the buffer. I am sure there are special ops that they coordinate, but as far as day to day, it is day and night when listening to them on the air. The problem with plain language (and this has been mentioned) is that now the plain language also has to be common. You cant call it a fire engine. you have to call it a pumper. It is not a ladder truck, it is an aerial platform, or device.
Go figure. NIMS is great, but why not keep it simple.
Go figure. NIMS is great, but why not keep it simple.
JoeyC
Senior Member
Every time I hear this silly excuse for keeping codes I laugh. People that are wanted, KNOW they are wanted (usually), so it doesn't matter what verbage is used to make the announcement. Dispatchers should be aware of your potential situation on the street and not blatently blurt out information before ensuring that you are ready to accept it safely, and at the same time, the cop on the street should be ready to deal with the resultant information, i.e. make sure the subject can't hear or have him detained appropriately.
Re-advise? I've heard that same stumbling from some departments as well trying to use "radio speech" when talking on the radio. Whats wrong with "can you repeat your last" if you need a repeat of the information??
I'd like to know why some people feel they need to use special radio words when on the air. The overuse of "advise" is a classic example.
JoeyC
Senior Member
I've never heard any confusion amongst LE personnel in this county regarding the word "cover" in the 25 yrs I've been here but I suppose it could be a vague word to a lookie-loo (listenee-loo) who is listening to radio traffic and doesn't work in the field.
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