How do police officers remember all those numbers they call out over the radio like 10-50 or 10-19 or 10-80?

Question

My son asked me this question while we were watching Cops and I don't know the answer. Any police officers care to answer?

by the way my son is only 8 so please be kind.

Answer 1

When you start, you get little cheat cards that have the whole list on them. The ones used most frequently just become part of your language. There really aren't that many that are used, maybe 20 or so. It's no different than learning new words for a vocabulary test.

Answer 2

They just memorize them over time , many departments have gone to using plain talk instead of 10 codes , we had the 10 codes when I worked maximum security , and we had them at the Fire Dept.. we have not used them in over 5 years but I still catch myself using them , and here our codes went from 10-0 which was chase in progress , up to 10-99 which was returned from last assignment / taking a break .. after the 99 different 10 codes we used Code 1 , code 2 and so on up to the number 10 ...They do not drill it in to you , like what was said , they do not brainwash you into knowing them , you just learn them as you go. if you use them everyday it does take long to remember them ..... they started doing the use of codes to shorten radio traffic , and to throw off people who used frequency scanners to listen in on emergency radios , then everyone got the lists of codes , and newer Officers had trouble understanding codes so like with everything else done in America , if one person does not comprehend , what do we do ??....lower the standards ...which is why many places are doing away with the use of codes ...

Answer 3

At the police academy, cadets are given a sheet. The numbers get used so often during the day, they get burned into a police officer's memory...especially the ones that say I am going for coffee, for lunch or to the bathroom.

Answer 4

by repetition, When you start you have a book like a quick reference.

Most of them are used over and over again and you just start remembering. The odd ones you still have to look up.

It's no different than a receptionist remembering extensions when transfering phone calls day in and day out

We used them alot but at times we just talked normal. It is in place to keep your time on the radio to a minimum.

Answer 5

There really isn't as many as you would think. But as far as remembering them that is there job. The same as you remembering things you need for work or school which ever it maybe. It becomes a part of everyday life.

Answer 6

We use them so often its like a second language. There's really not that many to remember but its just like anything else in life, practice makes permanent.

Answer 7

I'd guess they memorized them? It's not a hard thing to do. Think of something that you do that you enjoy and all the information related to it that you remember. You remember it because you memorized it.

Answer 8

Training and redundancy, after doing something for 8 hours a day even cops can learn to do it, just kidding, they have to have the ten code tattooed on their arm!~!

Answer 9

I think they just make the numbers up as they go along. Sounds good on TV anyway!

Answer 10

because when we are in the police academy they are drilled into your head, if you get a signal or code wrong, you get "smoked"(pushups and sit ups) after awhile, you use them so long on the streets they are second nature.