Ever since I can remember, I’ve always enjoyed watching buddy cop movies.<\/p>\n
There’s something electrifying about two people investigating a crime, trying to stop a bad guy from wreaking havoc on their town.<\/p>\n
And, aside from the conflict between good and evil, buddy cop movies tend to have engrossing characters and hilarious comedic situations.<\/p>\n
Some of my favorites include the Lethal Weapon series, The Other Guys, Bad Boys, and 21 Jump Street.<\/p>\n
Another fascinating thing was how these movies introduced us to cop culture. They gave us a glimpse into how cops spend their day-to-day lives, how they have to follow certain procedures, and how they communicate with one another.<\/p>\n
Speaking of communication, one of the main pillars of any cop movie seems to be the use of cop code.<\/p>\n
You’d hear “10-4” this and “11-54” that. I always felt that cops had their own special language, the kind that you and I aren’t privy to unless we become members of their special little club.<\/p>\n
However, with the internet, everybody has access to these codes and what they mean. So, the jig is up.<\/p>\n
With that said, let’s take a look at a few of these codes, starting with “code 5.”<\/p>\n
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Usually, “code 5” means stakeout. So, when a cop says on the radio that they are “code 5,” they are essentially saying that they plan to be on a stakeout. However, police codes sometimes differ by region, which means that different police departments can have different meanings for the same code. <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n As mentioned, code 5 signifies stakeout.<\/p>\n So, a cop could say the following.<\/p>\n Here, the cop is informing dispatch that they plan to be in a stakeout, so they will be unavailable via radio. This makes sense. After all, if you’re trying to hide and observe bad guys, the last thing you want is for an ill-timed radio communication to blow your cover.<\/p>\n However, code 5 could also be another way to tell other police officers to stay away from a certain place, especially if they are in uniform. After all, a cop on a stakeout doesn’t want the bad guys to get interrupted by another police officer.<\/p>\n Instead<\/a><\/strong>, they’d like to catch the bad guys in the act, red-handed.<\/p>\n In the above example, the officer is notifying central command that they are setting up a speed trap at their current location. Ergo, dispatch shouldn’t send any other officers to that location because it would be redundant and a waste of resources.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Since we started with code 5, it’s only fair that we take a look at all the other codes on that list.<\/p>\n Code 1<\/strong> means that there is a non-urgent situation going on.<\/p>\n Code 2<\/strong> means that the situation is urgent and that cops should proceed immediately.<\/p>\n Code 3<\/strong> means that there is an emergency and that cops should proceed with lights and sirens.<\/p>\n Code 4<\/strong> means that no further assistance is needed.<\/p>\n As mentioned earlier, code 5 means stakeout so uniformed officers should steer clear.<\/p>\n Code 6<\/strong> means that an officer is getting out of their vehicle to perform an investigation.<\/p>\n Code 7<\/strong> means that an officer is out of service because they are busy eating.<\/p>\n Code 8<\/strong> means that there is a fire alarm<\/p>\n Code 9<\/strong> means that there is a roadblock.<\/p>\n Code 10<\/strong> means that there is a bomb threat so cops should patrol their district to report the extent of the damage.<\/p>\n There are several other codes we could go over. There is code 43, code 666, and even code blue.<\/p>\n However, let’s shift our focus and talk about the code 10s.<\/p>\n Here are some of the most famous.<\/p>\n 10-4<\/strong> means that something has been acknowledged and heard. It’s another way of saying “loud and clear” or “I hear you.”<\/p>\n 10-7<\/strong> means that the officer will be out of service. 10-20<\/strong> means location.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Police started using codes back in the 1920s and 1930s. There were a few radio channels back then, and seeing as multiple officers needed to share the same frequency, it was important to find a quick way to get on and off the radio.<\/p>\n Enter police codes.<\/p>\n At first, you had your “10” codes, such as 10-4 which meant that something was acknowledged or 10-15 which was used to report a civil disturbance. After that, signal codes came along.<\/p>\n And, an added benefit to these codes was that they concealed what the cops were talking about, making it impossible to understand what was said unless you were a cop yourself.<\/p>\n Then, in the 70s and 80s, cop shows on TV boosted the popularity of these codes and pushed them into the mainstream. You’d hear a cop ask another, “What’s your 20?”<\/p>\n Interestingly, 10-20 means locations. So, when you ask someone, “what’s your 20?” you’re asking them, “where are you?”<\/p>\n Pretty soon, everyone was talking about these and trying to figure out what they meant. And, it wasn’t long before the codes became public knowledge, losing their secretive effect.<\/p>\n In fact<\/a><\/strong>, kids start using it with each other just to look cool. You’d see two young children talking with each other through their walkie-talkies and using police code like their lives depended on it.<\/p>\n Even rap music started using police codes. You’d find songs with 187 in them, which stands for a homicide.<\/p>\n However, the system had a lot of problems.<\/p>\n First of all, it was no longer clandestine. Most people in the public already knew what different codes meant.<\/p>\n But, the bigger problem was that different departments had different codes. This made interdepartmental cooperation difficult.<\/p>\n For instance, after Hurricane Katrina, several offices from neighboring counties flooded to the affected areas.<\/p>\n However<\/strong>, their ability to help was hindered by their confusion with the codes used over the radio.<\/p>\n This is why there has been a push recently towards officers speaking in plain English rather than resorting to codes and numbers. Even the Department of Homeland Security<\/a><\/strong> got involved and asked officers to switch.<\/p>\n While some departments, like the one in Midwest City, Oklahoma, have transitioned to plain English, many others are resilient to change because they are having a hard time breaking with tradition.<\/p>\n As a matter of fact, some departments are so reliant on these codes that they will use them for the smallest things.<\/p>\n For example, a cop could complain about a barking 10-11 even though they could just as easily say a barking dog<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n However, as more and more departments start using everyday English to communicate with each other, some cops are concerned that their privacy has been impacted.<\/p>\n After all<\/a><\/strong>, anyone with a frequency scanner could listen in to a conversation between cops and know what they are up to.<\/p>\nHow to use police code 5<\/h2>\n
What are other well-known cop codes?<\/h2>\n
\n10-8<\/strong> means that the cop is back in service.<\/p>\nHold on a second, why do police officers use codes in the first place?<\/h2>\n