Franklin County Sheriff
420 Wilton Circle
Winchester, TN 37398
931-967-2331 - Dispatch
931-967-0359 Dispatch Fax
931-962-1487 Jail 931-962-9884 Jail Fax


Law enforcement officials use a system known as the 10-codes. Many of these coded vary a
little from area to area. Some of these codes are the same across the state. The purpose of this is to be able to rapidly
and accurately handle official dispatches, messages and information between mobile units and their stations, between
stations and to and from other departments within the area.


These abbreviated codes are used to help avoid some of the miscommunication
when talking on the radio during an emergency scene.


THE PHONETIC ALPHABET
   This system of communication is used to make the spelling of names and reading of license plates less confusing. Many of the
letters sound alike. In the event of a poor transmission, the dispatcher might misunderstand one of the letters the officer is saying. For example,
the letters "B" and "E" might be mixed up. To avoid this, instead of the officer saying "B", the word "boy" would be used. 
A tag with the license plate reading FCSO-876 would be read as follows:
"Frank, Charles, Sam, Oscar-876" All departments us some variation of this system. Also, you might hear some of the military trained
officers use the military equivalent which is in bold and also
use "niner" for "nine" so it will not be confused with the number "five."  
  Most of the departments across the country us this form of alphabet for communication.

 

 


 


 

10-1     Receiving poorly 10-21   Call this station by telephone 10-41   Civil defense test 10-60   Exposure of person 10-79 
10-2     Receiving well 10-22   Take no further action on last info 10-42   Burglar alarm 10-61   Child abuse-neglect 10-80   Tower lights out at this station
10-3     Stop Transmitting 10-23   Stand by until no interference 10-43   Want officer for investigation 10-62   Corpse 10-81   Checking vehicle
10-4     Acknowledgments 10-24   Trouble at station, unwelcome visitors 10-44   Stolen vehicle 10-63   Net directed 10-82   Requesting back-up
10-5     Relay message 10-25   Do you have contact with ----? 10-45   Auto wreck - without injuries 10-64   Net free 10-83   Breach of peace
10-6     Busy 10-26   Disorderly person 10-46   Auto wreck - with injuries 10-65   Clear for emergency traffic 10-84   Possibility of drugs present
10-7     Out of service 10-27   D.L. Check 10-47   Send ambulance 10-66   Clear for cancellation 10-85   Request coroner
10-8     In service 10-28   Check full registration information 10-48   Send wrecker 10-67   Dead animal in road 10-86   Domestic
10-9     Repeat, conditions bad 10-29   Check for wanted 10-49   Driving while drunk 10-68   Repeated dispatch 10-87   Disturbing the peace
10-10   Out of service - subject to call 10-30   Non Emergency Traffic 10-50   No traffic here 10-69   False call or alarm 10-88   Shoplifter
10-11   Dispatching too rapidly 10-31   Cutting or stabbing 10-51   Driving without a license 10-70   Out on foot pursuit 10-89   Request radio-man at this station
10-12   Officials or visitors present 10-32   Is breathalyzer available? 10-52   "A" Armed robbery 10-71   School traffic 10-90   Radio-man will be at your station
10-13   Advise weather conditions 10-33   Emergency traffic 10-52   "B" Strong armed 10-72   Fire call 10-91   Homicide
10-14   Convoy or escort 10-34   Clear for local dispatch 10-53   Wanted charge 10-73   Road block 10-92   Disorderly house
10-15   Have prisoner in custody 10-35   Confidential information 10-54   Arrest and hold for ---- 10-74   Blood run, proceed with caution 10-93   Riot
10-16   Pick up prisoner at---- 10-36   Correct time 10-55   "A" Kidnapping; "B" Rape 10-75   Plane crash 10-94   Suicide
10-17   Pick up papers at ----- 10-37   Operator on duty 10-56   Prowler-person on premises 10-75   Plane crash 10-95   Bomb threat
10-18   Complete present assignment ASAP 10-38   Shooting 10-57   Overweight truck 10-76   Drag racer 10-96   Larceny
10-19   Return to your station 10-39   Armed suspect 10-58   Public drunk 10-77  10-97   Arrived at the scene
10-20   What is your location? 10-40   Officer in trouble, needs assistance 10-59   Fight 10-78   Unlock Vehicle 10-98   Finished last assignment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Adam Alpha J John Juliette S Sam Sierra
B Boy Bravo K King Kilo T Tom Tange
C Charles Charlie L Lincoln Lima U Union Uniform
D David Delta M Mary Mike V Victor Victor
E Edward Echo N Nora November W William Whiskey
F Frank Foxtrot O Ocean Oscar X X-Ray X-Ray
G George Golf P Paul Papa Y Young Yankee
H Henry Hotel Q Queen Quebec Z Zebra Zulu
I Ida India R Robert Romeo