Writer in NYC with simple question about police radio

[StarNYCWriter]

Hi --

I'm a fiction writer and I've a got a basic question about police radio protocol. I've searched high and low on the web and couldn't find the answer so I thought I'd post here.

If a pair of beat cops were to receive notification over their radios that a crime was in progress in the neighborhood, what would it actually sound like? How does the radio dispatcher refer to the beat cops? Does the dispatcher refer to them by name or by code name? Or does the dispatcher send out a universal radio address to ALL beat cops on patrol?

Secondly, if my characters were to respond to the radio dispatch, how would it sound? Do they respond by name (i.e. "10-4, Officer Vasquez responding") or do the two of them have a numerical code (i.e. "10-4, Adam-12 responding"). And if they do have a code name, what would it be and how is it constructed?

These are NYPD (specifically Brooklyn) cops I'm referring to.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can answer this question!!! Really appreciate it!

- StarNYCWriter

[Citicop]

StarNYC-

Welcome to the forum. We ask that if you intend to sick around and be a member here, you stop by the New Member Introductions area and post an introduction.

We have many people from NYPD as members here, and one of them may be by to give you a more specific answer soon, but for now let me start with this:

You really seem to be starting from "Square One" if you are asking about using an officer's name on the radio (this does not happen anywhere I am familiar with).

I suggest this: Do some firsthand research. We can give you an answer here all day long, but it is no substitute for experiencing it for yourself.

Invest in an inexpensive handheld scanner. You can find plenty of sites that have the frequencies in your area of the NYPD. Then, listen to the radio for a few hours. It will give you a very good idea about the basics of radio dispatching and you will have heard it for yourself, from actual dispatchers.

Once you have a solid foundation, it will be a lot easier for us to answer a question like "What does 10-32 mean?" (or whatever) than it is for us to conduct a start from zero lesson on radio useage.

Hope that helps a bit-

-Citicop.

[Switchback]

Edited, as Citicop habndled it much more nicely than I was inclined to do.

[PVB]

Hi.

I myself am very interested in that subject and I did what Citicop recommended to you.
Just visit www.n2nov.net or google "NYPD scan". (no scanner needed)
You'll find a few streams there and one is a channel with SOD/ ESU.
Sometimes it's quite hard to understand, but when you listen for a longer time you get the big picture. Besides that, there is an extensive list on that site that explains some of the code (names) you will hear...

I assume it is legal to listen to such scans (and post a link to them; I know it wouldn't be in Germany ).
If not, Mods, feel free to erase my post...

PVB

PS: And it would be more polite to introduce yourself properly as you might wanna hang around here to get some more insight, but I just couldn't let the opportunity pass to give a somewhat useful comment

[Joeyd6]

Ditto what PVB said. Or watch an episode of Third Watch. Most recent NYPD show about patrol which is at least fairly accurate.

[phantasm]

There are also live NYPD divisions to be found on the internet. Not that hard to find. Listen, and you'll be able to hear it first hand. Think the website may be called "Mel's garage"

[PVB]

website may be called "Mel's garage"

It is, but I think it's the same feed...