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Breaking the code: Area law enforcement changing communications
Dec 31, 2009 (The Telegraph - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
Common sense dictates when Telegraph area sheriff's deputies and Illinois State Police troopers utilize plain language over police 10-codes.
Despite the desire by Homeland Security Administration to abolish 10-codes -- the obsolete and confusing, non-universal number-based codes utilized by police departments since the 1930s -- most police law enforcement agencies began using plain language years ago as their main means of communication.
"There are about 100 standard codes in the 10-code system, and we only use about 10 percent of those," Madison County Sheriff Robert Hertz said Tuesday. "It has been our policy for years to be sure our transmissions to and from headquarters and each other are concise and clearly understood."
The 10-code communication system was developed in the 1930s, when radio channels were scarce. At that time, the codes allowed police to relay information through a four-digit number rather than send lengthy descriptions over the airwaves. However, there was no universal code, so a "10-50" could mean "officer down," while in another agency the same code might mean "routine traffic stop."
As things evolved, police departments also developed signal codes along with the 10-codes. The idea was to retain a degree of privacy from the public. However, to any police scanner aficionado, the codes were learned easily and understood by the listening public.
The problem with the codes not being universal became clearly evident with the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C., on Sept. 11, 2001, when emergency responders rushed to the stricken areas from across the United States and were unable to communicate with each other effectively. Multi-emergency responding agencies encountered similar problems during and after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and on the Gulf Coast.
Federal officials now require police, fire and emergency responders to utilize "plain language" when responding to a crisis involving multiple agencies. Three years ago, the Department of Homeland Security requested police agencies to voluntarily make the switch, as well.
While some police departments in the country may not have made the switch from 10-codes, many, such as Telegraph coverage area sheriff's departments and the Illinois State Police, were ahead of the curve in moving away from the traditional 10-code system.
"The Illinois State Police implemented plain language in 1997, when we went to computer-aided dispatching," Master Sgt. Isaiah Vega, public information officer for the State Police, said Monday. "While the codes are a valuable tool in some situations, plain language is an asset."
Telegraph coverage area sheriffs -- Hertz, of Madison County, Don Albrecht of Macoupin County, Mark Kallal of Jersey County and Rick Graham of Greene County (Calhoun County Sheriff Bill Heffington was not available for comment) -- all said their respective departments only utilize about 10 percent of the 100 10-codes, preferring to communicate in plain language.
"While we are discreet in some situations where we need to use code, like a fatal accident or with some suspect-related information, we use plain language rather than 10-codes," Albrecht said. "Common sense has to prevail in all emergency situations and ensure information is clearly understood, so the appropriate response is initiated."
Graham said while 10-codes were used when he started in law enforcement in 1977, "It's pretty much plain language now, though 10-code is used once in awhile."
Kallal said the 10-codes can get confusing really fast. He noted many of the codes are memorized and used often enough to remember easily, while other codes can leave an officer scrambling to recall the correct one.
"Just using common sense plays a big role," Kallal said. "Basically, I have always told my dispatchers and deputies alike that if it is an emergency situation, plain language is the way to go."
While area law officials recognize the need for plain language in all instances of multi-emergency responder agencies in a national emergency, they feel the situation dictates utilization of 10-code or plain language at the local level.
"We are pretty discreet, and some common 10-codes are still widely used in our department when necessary," Albrecht said. "But we went to plain language usage with dispatching when we got our computer-aided dispatching system about a year-and-a-half ago. There is no misunderstanding or confusion with plain language dispatching. It is simply saying exactly what you mean over the air."
mborman@thetelegraph.com
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