Police Code for Dead Person

[MOTORHEAD3902]

At an accident scene, the State Police in Va would advise that there is an "F" (fatality).

A DB that someone has discovered just laying about would be a "body" or "deceased person"...no 10-codes anymore.

 

[RagnarD]

In the part of Virginia I live we have several different federated cities and governments. Each one has their own public safety services.

South of the James River alone there is Va. Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Chesapeake. In Portsmouth the code for a body is a 10-32, in Suffolk it is a 10-39. I think Va. Beach is a "Code Gray" and I'm not sure of the others.

I guess it just depends on where you are?

RagnarD

 

[dhdevans]

Paris, TX police use Signal 81 for a dead person, Signal 82 for suicide, Signal 1 for Murder

 

[etechonline2002]

most local radio codes

i have built a list of radio codes from what i could find online and by research.

dispatched.tk has my list of radio codes

 

[Caddop22]

In Huntsville, Al.
10-74 - Unattended Death
10-77 - Deceased Person

 

[ind224]

Here in central Indiana they use 10-0 like a bad radio check,
or say # of fatalities. I'm surprised I don't see that elsewhere yet. I do see conflicting ten codes like our 10-74 means the person or license plate is OK and we also have 10-41 and 10-42 meaning on and off duty.
Code 700 involves police or fire as the victims and severity follows the 700 i.e. slight or 10-0 as may a call for a chaplain.

 

[burner781]

Columbus Ohio uses 10-18

 

[kf4sek]

Broward County Florida (and in many other parts of FL) Signal 7 is a dead person, which is NOT the same thing as 10-7, which means "out of service", as in the officer or deputy is off duty.

I have heard 10-7 used when a deputy or officer passes away, also. In fact, I heard the dispatcher page all units, announce the deputy's name, and then say, "Is now permanently 10-7." Usually they all stop transmitting for a few seconds after the all-call in respect for the departed deputy/officer. Of course, I have only heard it done once.

 

[compwhiz808]

In Eastern Iowa, all I have ever heard was DOS (Death On Scene). I can see the need for plain english replacing some of these 10 codes. I noticed that 10-89 is used in lots of areas, whereas around here it is the code for a burglar alarm.

-Adam
KD0BML

 

[ChuckinSC]

Here in central South Carolina it's simply "Signal Nine".

 

[SCPD]

I have heard 10-7 used when a deputy or officer passes away, also. In fact, I heard the dispatcher page all units, announce the deputy's name, and then say, "Is now permanently 10-7." Usually they all stop transmitting for a few seconds after the all-call in respect for the departed deputy/officer. Of course, I have only heard it done once.

In the U.S. Forest Service the death of an employee is never announced over the radio. This is done via notification by the District Ranger or in the case of the Forest Supervisor's Office, the Forest Supervisor. It is fairly common when speaking at at the memorial service for an employee to say "(radio designator) is out of service." This is usually the last phrase of a speech. Once that has been stated others don't repeat it. I have been through the on duty deaths of 5 coworkers that I knew fairly well since my career started in 1974. The memorial services, as well as the entire event, are very, very, tough.

Many law enforcement agencies prefer to say "(name) End of Watch (date and/or time)." I have a couple of T Shirts that have that printed on the back for Forest Service law enforcement officers.

Amateur radio operators give the radio call sign of a fellow ham and then say that they are a "silent key," referring to a Morse code keying device. When Morse code is being used this is abbreviated to just "SK."

 

[PolarBear25]

In Eastern Iowa, all I have ever heard was DOS (Death On Scene). I can see the need for plain english replacing some of these 10 codes. I noticed that 10-89 is used in lots of areas, whereas around here it is the code for a burglar alarm.

-Adam
KD0BML

You hit the nail right on the head. Plain language is the better way to go.

 

[Raven95150]

Most PDs around my area just use "DOA". The State Patrol uses 10-72 and if it's in reference to a fatal car accident it's 10-54. EMS used to use 10-21 but most of them have gone away from codes so they now use DOA.

 

[ecps92]

PAWS-Up
Code-4
"Make the appropriate Notifications"

Well, since we all know that almost every agency across the US, and world, have different signals/codes for dispatches, post what your local agency uses for a "dead person".

Cobb County, GA - Signal 48.

 

[LeeBarnes]

labette county, ks

Code Black

 

[joekansas]

Parsons Kansas. Used to be 10~40. Now, everyone involved calls it "Code Black".

On edit: Hey~ Lee Barnes. I'm in Parsons, if you couldn't tell- What's your "20"...... I work at the railroad.

Parsons PD used to call it signal something-er-other, but I never figured out all their signal descriptions cause they didnt' use them often enough for me to decipher them.

 

[GregFromOregon]

Oregon State Police use 12-16A for MVA w/fatality. Did hear Washington State Patrol say we have "one confirmed" at a multi-vehicle crash w/fatality near Spokane, WA on Wednesday evening.

 

[gd9704]

I hear mostly "DOA" in my area.

 

[191145]

funny - last week I heard "subject unresponsive, body cold, looks DOA" from EMS, investigators did everything else by cellphone...

 

[W6KRU]

Today I heard a FD dispatch for snake removal. A little bit later they were canceled because the snake was 11-44. :lol: