My first week...concerns.

[Blue_Chameleon]

My first week of actual FTO was a good experience. I was really intimidated and I think I still am in the entire scheme of it all.

One problem I'm having is understanding the ten codes. Does anyone have a good method to memorizing the codes? I have a bad memory and it's really hard.

Also, I feel so useless sometimes because my FTO would ask me for PC or CVC codes and I would not know the answer to them. I know the specific part of the law, if you will...but I don't know the numbers off the top of my head unless I look. Is that a bad thing? I feel like the Academy did nothing to me and I feel like my FTO expects me to just pop out the right numbers.

[Niteshift]

10 codes are just repetition. You'll find that later on, you really only use 25% of them.

As for the statutes, I have always disagreed about memorizing them. There are so many sections and sub-sections that you can't memorize them. Besides, we give you a book with the statutes in them. Why should I make you memorize them when you have a book right there? As long as you can find it in a reasonable amount of time, why do I care. Hell, I teach traffic at the academy and I had to look up a traffic statute 2 hours ago.

Just be patient and do what they require of you.

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Niteshift-
Perseverate In Pugna

[DesertRat]

Same here. All I've done all day for the last three months is write traffic tickets and I still look up statutes and idiot codes all day. Even some that I have memorized and write a half dozen times a day I'll get a brain fart on and have to look them up again. Don't lose sleep over it. They will eventually pound themselves into your head. Focus on staying safe and being professional. AND, it's only week one.

[Don]

Blue,

Glad to see you

[Blue_Chameleon]

Hey Don, when I was 18, someone actually called me "old and senile." That's gotta count for something, right? http://www.officer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[Traffic Dog]

As Niteshift already mentioned 10 codes are used about 25 percent of the time. Over the years I have been an LEO the use of 10 codes have declined dramatically.
A few years ago I worked with an officer who was 10 code crazy. He would be 10-24,10-76 with a 10-95. He was using 10 codes senior patrol officers would have to look up before answering. Finally our Captain of Field Services sat all the Patrol Officers down and said, " Just say what you got to say and quit 10 coding everyone to death."
His main rational was civilians know 10 codes. Some people have the entire list of them. Say what you have to say to avoid any confusion. 10 codes are no longer a big secret.
Yes, we still use them but really only the main ones. After a few weeks you will find out what 10 codes your department uses frequently. Remember them and any others you feel are important.

[Don]

Many departments still mandate the use of radio codes, whether it is some form of 10 code or some other code. There have been many studies done on the use of radio codes versus

[Niteshift]

I think it's because that's the way they've always done it........the main reason we do a lot of dumb things.

A trip to radio shack will get you a copy of the local agency 10 codes with no problem.

I've tried to get 10 codes dumped here, but our radio net is controlled by the sheriff's office and they've alway done it this way........

We have the 10 codes, a whole page of signals and my last dept. also had 11 status closures too. (status 5, no action taken, status 9, ticket issued etc)

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Niteshift-
Perseverate In Pugna

[RaychelR]

We have basic codes and signals (i.e. for arriving and clearing calls, mental subjects etc.. ) but mostly my new department uses plain speak. We send MCT messages for anything that really cannot be repeated over the air. It has really cut down on air time and as a new member of the dept, I really appreciate it! My last department used over 30 codes and signals. I have an excellent memory but still, all the codes and signals were aggarvating.

[Don]

Nite,

Yeah, I know. "Because we've always done it that way." That has to be the most stupid answer administration has to anything.

It ranks right up there with "look, I'm the sergeant here." While this may be appropriate for some things and absolutely essential for others, it is often just something to hide behind and justify a stupid decision.

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Senility is just a passing stage. . .
Stay safe out there,
6P1 (retired)

[Niteshift]

Like I said somewhere else on this forum, I picked out a couple of guys I trust and told them to tell me if I'm giving one of the "because I'm the Sgt." answers when there needs to be a better answer.

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Niteshift-
Perseverate In Pugna

[This message has been edited by Niteshift (edited 09-07-2000).]

[waltitia]

(I'm the Sgt. here)...I've never said that, figured it was already known since folks keep calling me 'sarge'.

As for 10-codes...um, I think folks here use about five of the many. We'd rather say what we want or use phone extentions (ie instead of saying notify homicide, we'll say notify 2100 which is their phone extension). If we want a tow truck or ambo (medic) then that's what we'll ask for, plain and simple.

PC, we just know because we 'charge' people instead of the SAs office, although we have recently started a 'pilot' program which allows ASAs to review and change the charges. TC, well, the ones used the most, the state kindly printed them on the back of the fine book...so who needs to look them up.

As someone else said, its a stress test and a test to see if you can at least begin looking in the right direction.

[Glockarmorer]

Back to Blue's original question.

One trick that I used to learn the 10 codes was to sit down with a piece of paper and write out 10-0 through 10-99. Then I tried to write in what each one meant. At first, I could only get a few of them. Then I would refer back to the code list and study, then try it again.

This worked for me. I used to know every one of them. Now I only seem to remember the ones we use, which is about 60% of them.

Good luck,
G.A.

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No cops, know anarchy.

[FLLawdog]

As part of our academic phase after being hired, we had a weekly test on them. Between 10's and signals, we have over 150 codes. We hardly use half. The trick is to determine what you use and what you don't. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, one more in bolds for emphasis...ALWAYS remember the officer needs assistance and other high priority signals.

As far as codes, they'll come with time. I want my trainees to know elements of the crime, not the chapter. Once again, you'll learn the more popular ones. It never hurts to get you a cheat sheet for your clipboard. We have a header sheet that shows all of our accepted report headers. I used that with the corresponding codes. Fits perfect(a little creativity with the reducer on the copier)on the clipboard.

Keep up the good work, and keep plugging away. Anything worth having is worth busting you *** for.

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FLLawdog
"Never try to teach a pig to sing...it wastes your time and it annoys the pig."

[LeeRoy]

1) Get a scanner and listen to a lot of radio traffic from your agency and other agencies in the area who use 10 codes. You'll find some variation (10-27 in Pleasant Hill is a driver's license record, most other agencies in CCC it is a warrant) but for the most part most codes are the same. Look up the 10 code you whenever you hear it to figure out what the cop meant.

2) Put a vehicle code in the bathroom. Concentrate on 21000 through 24000 CVC. Study, Study, Study. When you see somebody do something stupid while you're off duty just flash your badge, wave your gun, and yell...just kidding, that was advice on how to get fired. Instead make note of what they did and then when you get home look up the code section and figure out what ticket you could have issued.

3) Make your self a cheat sheet of penal code sections commonly used battery, spousal spousal battery, petty theft, grand theft, burglary, tresspassing.

Don't use a cheat sheet from somebody else. Make your own so you have to look up the sections in the penal code.

Let us know how FTO is going. If you recall I figured out what academy you attended. I was in the 118th. Give me a vague clue to your agency (agency size, patrol car color, etc). Let's see if I can guess who you work for. Take care and don't get too stressed out.

[tcsd1236]

Our agency went to plain text a couple of years ago. Its a pain in some situations, because a 10 code can be brief, where you might expend an entire sentence or two in plain text saying the same thing.
Worst part of 10 codes IMO, is areas where ajoining departments use different codes. This is generally near state lines, but different code lists can cause misunderstandings at critical moments.