3 - Communications

3a) Paralake Emergency Services Callsigns

A callsign is a unique identifier which is used on the government radio when broadcasting to dispatch and others. A callsign allows the receiver of your transmission and wider colleagues to understand your role and capability, such as Patrol, Road Traffic Unit or Tactical Firearms Officer. For the Emergency Medical Service and Fire Department, the callsigns allow others to know the capability of the vehicle you are using.

It is important you update your callsign when changing roles or vehicles, if applicable. Misuse of callsigns will result in disciplinary action.

Callsigns and Ranks

Command

Chiefs of Department*
Major*
Captain
Lieutenant
Staff Sergeant

Supervisor

Sergeant

Officer

Corporal
Senior Officer
Officer
Probationary Officer

* By default, members of Senior Management get put into a Charlie Oscar callsign. The exception to this is when deploying in light or heavy TFU gear, as the callsign automatically updates when gearing up and down.

3b) Key Phrases and Terminology

The table below lists some key phrases and terminology that you will need to know, understand and use. You will also need to know some “10 codes” and “11 codes” which can also be found below

A unit’s call-sign is interchangeable with “last call sign” when they were the last call-sign to transmit to dispatch. This is used when their call sign isn’t clear but their message is.

3c) Radio Codes

Radio codes are generally optional as long as the message is clear and concise. The codes listed below are the only codes which are authorised for use within the department, using others may confuse your colleagues and cause critical issues, therefore it is a disciplinable offense to use other codes in the main radio. The exception to using other radio codes would be in the government text-based radio as code meanings are automatically displayed.

Response Code

Code 2 Low priority, no lights or siren.
Code 3 Use lights & siren
Code 4 No further assistance needed
Code 6 Stay out of area

Other Radio codes

10-0: Caution
10-3: Stop transmitting
10-4: Message received, understood
10-6: Change channel
10-7: Out of service
10-8: In service
10-9: Repeat message.
10-12: Stand By (Stop)
10-15: Prisoner in custody
10-16: Pick up prisoner
10-19: Return(ing) to station
10-20: Location
10-23: Stand by
10-29: Record/Warrant Check

10-29F: Subject wanted, felony
10-29M: Subject wanted, misdemeanor
10-29V: Vehicle Wanted.
10-45A: Condition of patient: good
10-45B: Condition of patient: serious
10-45C: Condition of patient: critical
10-45D: Condition of patient: dead
10-66: Suspicious person
10-71: Shooting
10-97: Arrived at scene
10-98: Available for assignment
11-41: Ambulance needed
11-95: Traffic stop
11-99: Officer needs help
211: Robbery

3d) Right to a Supervisor

Members of the public have the right to speak a supervisor. When a supervisor is requested via the 911 service they are expected to respond to the call as soon as they are available.

Detainees also have the right to speak with a supervisor if they request it. If a supervisor is requested by a suspect being arrested then they may be brought to the Police Department to wait for one but they must not receive any criminal charges until the supervisor has spoken to them.

The right to a supervisor can only be declined in the following circumstances:

The supervisor was previously involved in the suspects case and has confirmed the suspect is to be charged.
The arresting officer is already a Supervisor, i.e a Sergeant does not have to request a Lieutenant to talk to his suspect if the suspect requests it.
There are no supervisors on duty.
There are no supervisors available.

3e) Radio Protocol

When you are speaking over the radio to your colleagues, you must speak calmly and professionally at all times while also clearly giving out information as to provide clarity towards all government employees.

When speaking to government employees, if there is an on-duty dispatcher, you should always be using radio protocol, for example, if a unit attempts to contact dispatch, you would say the following:

<Alpha 1> Dispatch, this is Alpha 1. OR Alpha 1 to Dispatch.

<Dispatch> Go ahead Alpha 1.

<Alpha 1> Could you close incident #67 as it is code 4.

<Dispatch> 10-4 I have closed incident #67.

In life-threatening situations or situations where radio protocol would slow down the movement of information between units (such as a large police chase for example), then you may request for radio protocol to be temporarily disregarded, but you should restore radio protocol at the earliest and most appropriate opportunity.

As of November 2021 when the Dispatch overhaul was released and the Unit radio was released, Officers can use unit radio (N) when assigned to the same incident to communicate with each other and it's highly encouraged to use unit radio instead of government radio when it comes to car pursuits and such.

3f) Microphone Usage

Possessing and using a microphone of good quality is a requirement on entry to the police force.
If your microphone is not working, or you are not in a position to use it, then you must go off duty at your earliest convenience but finish any active investigations/interactions using text-based dialogue.
There are occasions where it is justified to use text-based dialogue as opposed to microphone usage for as long as necessary, including but not limited to: text-based radio; in a noisy environment, and/or if someone speaking to them is using text-chat.
Supervisors reserve the right to demote officers if they do not have a microphone, and cannot justify using their microphone.
In rare circumstances, the Chiefs of Department is allowed to grant an exemption to play without the use of a microphone. These circumstances include but are not limited to medical reasons.

Google Sites

Report abuse