Call signs

[mud]

I have an odd question for the LEOs: how often, if ever, do you your call signs change?

For example, if you worked in a city and were assigned to a squad car from a particular precinct, would you have a specific call sign relative to the car? What if you were reassigned to a motorbike? Would your call sign change to reflect the fact that you were on a motorbike instead, or would it remain the same?

Thanks in advance.

 

[RolnCode3]

I have an odd question for the LEOs: how often, if ever, do you your call signs change?

For example, if you worked in a city and were assigned to a squad car from a particular precinct, would you have a specific call sign relative to the car? What if you were reassigned to a motorbike? Would your call sign change to reflect the fact that you were on a motorbike instead, or would it remain the same?

Thanks in advance.

This is totally dependent on the agency.

I retain my call sign no matter my assignment - but my job is not like most.

 

[SLOWREX03]

to be very vague, for the highway patrol, they change day to day for most, and some retain the same one.

being that im a junior guy, ill wait for the more veteran officers on here determine if its appropriate to explain it further or not.

 

[bfk4lyfe]

For most departments/areas its normally your (sector)/beat for the day. But there's always exceptions.

 

[NorCalBusa]

Where I live they issue call signs to the individual, and once a year clean it all up from retirements and such. The lower the number, the more senior the guy. For San Mateo County it's a mix; patrol is given a call sign that matches the beat (2B30- 2=Patrol, B- B shift, 30-beat designation, Portola Valley/Woodside in this case, 60 is the coast, 20 is Eichler/San Mateo, 10 is Redwood City IIRC), Coroner is 10C55 all the time, Admin are permanent...

 

[}Dragon{]

Coroner is 10C55 all the time, .

^^^ That's easy to remember

Yeah- it's all up to the individual agency.

In Contra Costa, the first two numbers refer to the agency, for example:

1 Sheriff
2 AntiochPD
9 PittsburgPD
12 Concord PD
15 Walnut Creek
18 Lafayette PD
19 CHP Martinez Offc.

The next part is a letter that either describes the shift or type of unit:

D:detention
I:investigations
M:motors
Parking
W:watchcommander
X:dayshift
Y:swings
Z:graveyard

The last two numbers are the beat or assigned number.

So, 1Z4 would be a SO Deputy, on graveyard, assigned to beat 4.

Rel's callsign:

 

[silversvs]

I had the same call sign for three years, then recently they decided to change it. Went from being a Mary unit (motors) to a straight supervisor call sign, a Sam unit. Sucks!

 

[BikeRidinMike84]

Going further into Coco Countys callsigns....

A-Admin
R- Reserve
Q-Cadets

Most departments who have their own dispatch drop the individual ID number at the beggining...... but Pittsburg for instance who is dispatched thru coco county & sometimes have patched channels with East County dispatch actually use their prefix....

for example...

top to da bottom:

1a1...rupf
1a2...daly

1r1- jon j....



Anyways.....

Do you know what CHP stands for?

 

[}Dragon{]

Anyways.....

Do you know what CHP stands for?

Carrows Has Priority.

 

[SLOWREX03]

Coffee Has Priority.

fixed.

 

[Kornholio]

Carrows Has Priority.

 

[BikeRidinMike84]

As much as I love the CHP I have a guy at my work who is ex CHP and its just so fun to rag on him....

Is that all you guys got?

How about...... Cant Handle Policework.

 

[Kornholio]

As much as I love the CHP I have a guy at my work who is ex CHP and its just so fun to rag on him....

Is that all you guys got?

How about...... Cant Handle Policework.

Although it isn't an acronym for the CHP, when I was younger and my cousin was in the CHP, he always called it "AAA with a Gun."

 

[bfk4lyfe]

Why do you CoCo guys need a damn 10 code for the word clear. ten-twen-ty-six, four syllables vs one for its meaning.

Altho it is funny to stop a tweak and hear them say 'man, im ten two six i jus' got stopped.'

 

[Traq]

Do you know what CHP stands for?

Not an acronym but they're Caltrans' personal army.

 

[BikeRidinMike84]

Or another variation... AAA with a Badge.

 

[RolnCode3]

I had the same call sign for three years, then recently they decided to change it. Went from being a Mary unit (motors) to a straight supervisor call sign, a Sam unit. Sucks!

You can't be "Mary Sam"? RCPD does that. You'd hear something like "5 Mary Sam".

 

[}Dragon{]

Why do you CoCo guys need a damn 10 code for the word clear. ten-twen-ty-six, four syllables vs one for its meaning.

It would confuse the dispatchers to use clear text.

Altho it is funny to stop a tweak and hear them say 'man, im ten two six i jus' got stopped.'

That's only in east county...

 

[}Dragon{]

Not an acronym but they're Caltrans' personal army.

AKA Caltrans Has Protection...

 

[Kornholio]

Riddle me this Ken, why is it that even though the military perfected the phonetic alphabet decades before it was common place for police departments to use radios they created their version based on names? What was wrong with the one that the military used? Shit, a lot of police officers are transplanted military folks anyway. It'd just be one less thing they'd have to re-learn.