How are the letters in between the two call numbers (xxYxx) assigned?
Harris County SO/Constables Callsigns
- Thread starter mfn002
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Depends on the agency. For the SO, for example, Frank units are Field Training Officers, L units are Lieutenants. EX: 44L1 (District 4 LT/Day Shift, 44F01 (Senior FTO).
As for the Constables, each agency has its own designations for the alphabet. EX: 85T15 or 5T15 would be a unit assigned to the toll road in Constable Precinct 5's area and 85P15 or 5T15 would be a unit assigned to patrol the parks in Constable Precinct 5's area. The 85 is used when communicating on other than C-5's channel.
OK, the answer to why 85 instead of 5. Several years ago, units 1-7999 were assigned to the Sheriff, 8000-8999 were assigned to the Constables, and the 9000 units were for other Harris County and outside agencies. Some agencies use the 8K designator, others shorten it when talking with their dispatchers. There are exceptions. For some reason, the DA's Office has always used DA xxx. And, DPS and HPD units that have access to Borgnet always use their agencies unit numbers, preceeded by the agency. EX: HPD 19G41, DPS 2251, etc. But, even when using the full numbers, it has become common practice to use the agency name when communicating on another agency's talkgroup. EX: "SO 4421 on Constable 5."
Hope this unmuddies the water a bit.
As for the Constables, each agency has its own designations for the alphabet. EX: 85T15 or 5T15 would be a unit assigned to the toll road in Constable Precinct 5's area and 85P15 or 5T15 would be a unit assigned to patrol the parks in Constable Precinct 5's area. The 85 is used when communicating on other than C-5's channel.
OK, the answer to why 85 instead of 5. Several years ago, units 1-7999 were assigned to the Sheriff, 8000-8999 were assigned to the Constables, and the 9000 units were for other Harris County and outside agencies. Some agencies use the 8K designator, others shorten it when talking with their dispatchers. There are exceptions. For some reason, the DA's Office has always used DA xxx. And, DPS and HPD units that have access to Borgnet always use their agencies unit numbers, preceeded by the agency. EX: HPD 19G41, DPS 2251, etc. But, even when using the full numbers, it has become common practice to use the agency name when communicating on another agency's talkgroup. EX: "SO 4421 on Constable 5."
Hope this unmuddies the water a bit.
I guess that clears things up. It sure is complicated.
As far as using shift numbers, etc, College Station uses numerical callsigns (3301, 3241, etc.). The first "3" indicates that it is College Station, the second "3" (or 1 or 2) indicates the shift number. The third number is the beat, and the fourth is the unit number for that beat. So, 3241 would be College Station, Second Shift, 4 Beat, Unit 1. Bryan uses a much simpler unit id system. They have the city divided up into districts and assign them a callsign in letter-number format (Five-Adam, Four-Zebra, etc). The officers simply assume these beats as their callsigns.
This area also uses that same sort of ID thing ("DPS 6517 to Brazos County SO").
As far as using shift numbers, etc, College Station uses numerical callsigns (3301, 3241, etc.). The first "3" indicates that it is College Station, the second "3" (or 1 or 2) indicates the shift number. The third number is the beat, and the fourth is the unit number for that beat. So, 3241 would be College Station, Second Shift, 4 Beat, Unit 1. Bryan uses a much simpler unit id system. They have the city divided up into districts and assign them a callsign in letter-number format (Five-Adam, Four-Zebra, etc). The officers simply assume these beats as their callsigns.
This area also uses that same sort of ID thing ("DPS 6517 to Brazos County SO").
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One thing I can tell you is that any 88xx numbers are Harris County Constable Pct 8. 886x are the Harris County Constable Pct 8 tollroad units. Sometimes you will here them call 8800 and that is the dispatcher.
"College Station uses numerical callsigns (3301, 3241, etc.). The first "3" indicates that it is College Station, the second "3" (or 1 or 2) indicates the shift number. The third number is the beat, and the fourth is the unit number for that beat. So, 3241 would be College Station <snip>"
The Sheriff's Department uses a similar plan, but the numbers are based on seniority in the district and shift. Deputies are usually assigned to a beat, but it is not recognized in the unit number. There are some other differences, but they are too numerous, and not really germaine to this discussion.
;^>
HCSD patrol uses the 4xxx and 5xxx series. The first digit shows patrol, the second shows the district (Note: 5 districts, district 1-4100 and 4500, dist 2-4200, dist 3-4300, dist 4-4400 and 4800, and the new kid on the block, dist 5-5500. The lower numbers are regular patrol and the contract units are the higher numbers <4400 and 4800>. Central Patrol is a catch-all countywide unit that has traffic/accident/truck enforcement, canine, and other specialized units that uses the 4000 series.).
Hope this unmuddies the water a bit more.
The Sheriff's Department uses a similar plan, but the numbers are based on seniority in the district and shift. Deputies are usually assigned to a beat, but it is not recognized in the unit number. There are some other differences, but they are too numerous, and not really germaine to this discussion.
;^>
HCSD patrol uses the 4xxx and 5xxx series. The first digit shows patrol, the second shows the district (Note: 5 districts, district 1-4100 and 4500, dist 2-4200, dist 3-4300, dist 4-4400 and 4800, and the new kid on the block, dist 5-5500. The lower numbers are regular patrol and the contract units are the higher numbers <4400 and 4800>. Central Patrol is a catch-all countywide unit that has traffic/accident/truck enforcement, canine, and other specialized units that uses the 4000 series.).
Hope this unmuddies the water a bit more.
scanfan03
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HCSO Dispatch 5 just changed up their unit numbers. They now have words in between their numbers. EX: 45 Edward xx, anyone know what that stands for? I know precinct 4s 4 Edward xx is an east side unit, but that's not so with Dispatch 5, because write now there is an Edward unit on 2920 at 290, and that is as far west as you can get. I've also heard king (which i'm assuming is k9, but may not be because they put a 45 in front instead of 40 like they used to).
I've been listening to HCSD for the past couple of days, and it appears we have a Quest. Last week I heard a Detective Supervisor tell a couple of investigators that their unit numbers would be changing last Saturday. Not unusual within a Bureau. But this appears to be department wide. From what I've heard, 4xDxx and 4xNxx units are Day Shift and Night Shift units (4xExx units may be Evening Shift), 4xSxx units are Sergeants, 4xFxx units are the FTO units (no change), 4xBxx units are the Burglary and Theft Patrol Investigators (no change), but the others seem to need a bit more investigation. The 5xC and Txx units are new, to me, but appear to be Traffic Division related. As for the 41Kxx unit as opposed to a 40Kxx unit, the K-9 units may be assigned to a district, and will have the district identifier instead of the countywide unit number.
Ah, the Quest...
Ah, the Quest...
scanfan03
Member
bpckty1 said:
I know a k9 whose unit number is 50 king 13. I think the D stands for Day unit and the Tom units aren't new, they are Commercial Vehicle Enforcement units. So 5xC units must be traffic units (the old 40xx units).
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