The radio comes with it's own regulations. Any Officer must follow the set guidelines when communicating to make it easier for other Officers to understand.
Radio transmissions over the Law Enforcement Frequency are recommended to fit as follows:
CALLSIGN, TRANSMISSION
For example: 1A2, requesting additional units at Inglewood Pizza Stack, shots fired.
For Department radio transmissions:
LAPD#BADGENUMBER to OTHER DEPARTMENT, TRANSMISSION
For example: LAPD#0001 to LAFD FIRE/LAFD EMS/ LA CITY, requesting your assistance to Inglewood Pizza Stack, the building is on fire, LAPD is already securing the scene.
The highest Officer (most likely Shift Supervisor / Watch Commander) is the one who responds via Department radio. Same as on scene, the highest Officer on scene is handling the Department radio.
When you go on duty, you have to report start of watch as follows:
RANK ABBREVIATED BADGE NUMBER, start of watch under CALLSIGN, clear from LOCATION
For example: CMDR#0001, start of watch under 1A2, clearing from Rampart Station, available for calls.
When you go off duty, you have to report end of watch as follows:
RANK ABBREVIATED BADGE NUMBER, end of watch, CALLSIGN disbanded
For example: CMDR#0001, end of watch, 1A2 disbanded.
Any Unit that announces an on-going pursuit shall state that they are in "Pursuit" and giving the location, followed by the description of the vehicle, number of occupants and it's current heading. The lead pursuit unit shall give frequent updates on the pursuits location, any Unit that has information regarding the pursuit shall transmit it over the radio. Officers engaged in a pursuit should always call for back up units, anyone that does respond should do so with a code three. Once enoough Units have joined the pursuit (should have at max four or five) others can discontinue Code three and return to normal operations.
An active duty unit is identified by a callsign in order to make it responsibilities clear and to increase field and situational awareness.
Only the most important things are to be radioed, no conversations. Use your phone instead. ((If you're standing next to each other, use normal chat instead of /r))
Code 1
Ackowledge call.
Code 2
Routine call, no lights or siren.
Code 3
Priority call, lights and siren.
Code 4
No further assistance required.
Code 6
Out of vehicle, out of vehicle for investigation.
Code 6-ADAM
Out of vehicle, out of vehicle for investigation with assistance required.
Code 6-CHARLES
Out of vehicle, out of vehicle for investigation with a wanted suspect.
Code 6-GEORGE
Out of vehicle, out of vehicle for investigation with high gang activity.
Code 7
Meal break.
Code 12
False alarm.
Code 30
Burglar alarm. (Code 30 Ringer or Code 30 Silent)
Code 99
Emergency, Officer in danger.
148
Resisting arrest.
187
Homicide.
207
Kidnapping.
211
Armed Assault.
245
Assault with a deadly weapon.
417
Person with a gun.
459
Burglary.
480
Hit and Run.
487
Grand theft.
502
Driving under the influence (DUI)
10-3
Stop transmitting.
10-4
Message received, understood.
10-8
Availale for calls.
10-14
Escort.
10-15
Enroute with prisoner to nearest station.
10-23
Stand-by.
10-33
Roll Call.
10-50
Traffic accident.
10-53
Officer down.
10-76
En-route to location.
10-80
Active pursuit.
10-97
Arrived at scene.
Start of Watch
Reporting for duty.
End of Watch
Reporting for off-duty.
AC
Aircraft Crash.
BT
Bomb threat.
Clear
Available for calls from said location.
Stand-by
Wait for a second transmission to clarify.
Disregard
Don't take the last transmission into account.
Go ahead
Proceed with your transmission.
Come in
Respond to this transmission.
Callsigns are mainly used to identify units on the field and to make communicatoin easier and quicker between units, every Officer is required to occupy a callsign while patroling.
(L)INCOLN
One Officer Unit
EXAMPLE: X-L-Y / XLY
(A)DAM
Two Officers Unit
EXAMPLE: X-A-Y / XAY
(M)ARY
Motorcycle Unit
EXAMPLE: X-M-Y / XMY
(X)RAY
Air Support Division
EXAMPLE: X-X-Y / XXY
(H)OTEL
High Speed Unit
EXAMPLE: X-H-Y / XHY
(D)AVID
Special Weapons and Tactics
EXAMPLE: X-D-Y / XDY
(V)ICTOR
Specialized Patrol Unit
EXAMPLE: X-V-Y / XVY
(I)DA
Internal Affairs
EXAMPLE: X-I-Y / XIY
(K)ING
Detective Bureau Robbery and Homicide
EXAMPLE: X-K-Y / XKY
(F)RANK
Detective Bureau Gang and Narcotics
EXAMPLE: X-F-Y / XFY
The structure of the callsigns remains at X-CALLSIGN-Y. The number X represents the Los Angeles Police Departments Division assignment and the number Y the patrol number.
Operations Central Bureau
1
Air Support Division
2
High Speed Unit
3
SWAT
4
Specialized Patrol Unit
5
Detective Bureau
6
Professional Development and Standards Division
8
Internal Affairs Division
9
STAFF Officers
10
The number Y is assigned to the patrol number for clear identification. Depending on the available radio channels, the numbers 1-25 are available.
Chief of Police
300
Assistant Chief of Police
200
Deputy Chief of Police
100
Commander
30-35
Captain I / II / III
40-45
Lieutenant I / II
50-55
Sergeant I / II
60-65
Detective II / III
70-75
Regular Police Officers and Detective I
1-25
Additional Informations
If two Officers with different divisional affiliations drive together, the callsign of the highest-ranking officer is always assumed. If both are the same rank, they can choose between them.
Each Office has a maximum of 5 Supervisor Units available. For example, if the numbers 60-65 of a Sergeant I / II in the office is already occupied, the next Sergeant I / II will have an callsign between the 1-25.
((When using /callsign only the short form of the callsign is used. (e.g. 1A2, 2L23, 10L30 etc)
Some examples
Officer Doe is part of the Office of Special Operations Metropolitan Division. His callsign would be 4L2.
Officer Sherman and Dudek are part of the Office of Special Operations Metropolitan Division. They're starting their shift under 4A2
Officer Thompson is part of the Professional Development and Standards Division. His callsign would be 8L1
4A1 and 6L1 at the same time is possible. Because those division numbers aren't the same. Both Officers are in a different division.