Live Police Radio Online and Common Police 10-Codes
Author: Ian C. Langtree - View Credentials
Published: 2 Dec 2019 - Updated: 8 Nov 2026
Publication Type: Informative
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content
Synopsis
This information explains how anyone can listen to live police and fire department radio over the internet without buying a scanner, drawing on the writer's own memories of a mother who followed local calls on one of the first police scanners. It describes why reporters and hobbyists tune in and lists common police 10-codes, radio abbreviations and 900 series codes so listeners can follow what dispatchers and officers are saying. It is a useful guide for seniors, people with limited mobility and anyone who enjoys a hobby they can follow from home.
At a Glance
- 1 - Some departments use abbreviations such as ADW, meaning assault with a deadly weapon.
- 2 - Reporters listen to police radio to get the first word of major crimes and accidents.
- 3 - Codes vary between departments, so a code can mean different things in different cities.
- 4 - Many cities have police and fire radio feeds streamed online, so a scanner is not needed.
Topic Definition
- Police 10-Codes
Police 10-codes are short numeric radio signals, each beginning with the number 10, that officers and dispatchers use to pass common messages quickly and clearly, such as 10-4 for message received. They were developed for early two-way radio in the United States, but their meanings vary between agencies, and many departments now prefer plain language to avoid confusion when different services work together.
Overview
When the first police scanners came out, my mother bought one so she could hear what was happening in her city, and especially to hear if anything bad was being reported in her own neighborhood.
Today's so-called reality shows are way too staged for my taste. Their contrived situations and semi-scripted actions actually render them somewhat less than real. For unvarnished reality, try listening to a police scanner. You'll hear real cops answering real crime calls. You'll hear police officers as they head into potentially dangerous situations. You'll hear police dispatchers as they try to keep up with everything from fender benders to shootings - all in a standard night's work for many police departments.
When the first police scanners came out, my mother bought one so she could hear what was happening in her city, and especially to hear if anything bad was being reported in her own neighborhood. I remember coming in late at night from a date to find her sitting at the kitchen table with the scanner going. Naturally, she had been worrying about where I was and listening to hear if there had been any wrecks.
When my brother became a policeman, my mother really had something to worry about - and an excuse to listen to the police radio day in and day out. Police scanners are not just for professional worriers, though. Many people listen to them as a hobby. Newspaper, radio and TV reporters listen to them in order to get the first word of a major crime or accident so they can get to the scene quickly.
Nowadays, you don't even need a police scanner to hear police calls in many cities. There are hundreds of live police radio feeds being streamed over the Internet. There are also fire department radio feeds as well. All you do is click a link for the city of your choice and start listening.
Tonight, I listened for about an hour to the live police feed from my hometown, a medium-sized city with a normal share of crime and other human conflict. During that hour, I heard police answer calls to respond to an assault, a stolen car, an attempted home break-in, and someone who was threatening her neighbor with a knife.
A number of Web sites exist that have links to police scanners across the United States.
The "10" Codes
Get the most out of listening to live police radio: Learn the 10-codes!
Police use special codes over the radio. Many of the most common ones start with "10." You're undoubtedly familiar with "10-4," meaning "I copied (heard) you." But what about "10-12" or "10-19?" If you don't know the codes, or have a list of them near to hand, you won't always know what is happening.
Below are some of the most common 10-codes, but there are others. There are also other sets of codes, used by some police departments, that do not begin with "10," or any number for that matter. For example, in some cities you might hear a dispatcher tell a police officer to respond to an "ADW," that is, an assault with a deadly weapon.
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10-7 Officer is out of service
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The "900" Police Codes
| 900 Bomb threat 901 Homicide 902 Sudden death 903 Attempted suicide 904 Sex offense 905 Indecent act 906 Threatening 907 Assault 908 Abduction 909 Robbery 910 Extortion 911 Break and enter 912 Theft 913 Auto theft 914 Possess stolen property 915 Fraud 916 Counterfeiting 917 Weapon 918 Property damage 919 Prostitution 920 Gambling 921 Drugs 922 Missing person 923 Escape 924 Fire 925 Theft alarm 926 Assist citizen 927 Assist officer 928 Locate 929 Phone call 930 Disturbance 931 Landlord-tenant dispute 932 Neighbor dispute 933 Domestic dispute 934 Labor dispute 935 Intoxicated person 936 Unwanted person 937 Mentally ill person 938 Public mischief 939 Dangerous condition 940 Industrial accident 941 Farm accident 942 Insecure location 943 Lost property 944 Found property 945 Trespassing 946 Prowler 947 Suspicious person 948 Suspicious vehicle 949 Arrest 950 Property accident 951 Accident person injured 952 Hit and run accident 953 Accident - fatality 954 Traffic enforcement 955 Driving complaint 956 Traffic control 957 Impaired driver 958 High speed chase 959 Parking complaint 960 Abandoned vehicle 961 Liquor offense 962 Animal complaint 963 Noise complaint 964 Escort 965 Juvenile offense 966 Probation offense 967 Search warrant 968 Shoplifting complaint 969 Injured person 970 Missing juvenile 971 Privately towed vehicle 972 Motorcycle complaint 973 By-law complaint 974 Check premises 975 Paid duty 976 Follow up 977 Arrest on warrant 978 Arson 979 Theft under $200 980 Routine detail 981 Provincial alert 982 Zone alert 983 Administrative alert 984 Missing adult located 985 Missing juvenile located 986 Property returned 987 Stolen vehicle recovered 988 Vehicle break and enter 991 Graffiti related 993 Domestic- not husb/wife 999 Other |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to listen to police radio?
In most of the United States it is legal to listen to unencrypted police radio, but some states restrict scanner use in vehicles or during a crime. Check local laws before listening on the move.
Why can I not hear some police channels?
Many agencies encrypt some or all of their radio traffic for officer safety and privacy, so those channels cannot be heard on scanners or online feeds.
What does 10-4 mean?
It means the message was received and understood. It is one of the few 10-codes that is widely known outside police work.
Do I need special equipment to listen online?
No. A computer, tablet or smartphone with an internet connection and a web browser or listening app is usually enough.
Is police radio a good hobby for people with limited mobility?
Yes. It can be enjoyed from home, needs little equipment, and can be followed with headphones, screen readers or large-print code lists.
Are police codes the same in every city?
No. Many departments use their own versions of 10-codes or other codes, which is why a local code list is the most reliable guide.
Can deaf people follow police radio?
Live radio is audio only, but some listeners use speech-to-text apps to read transmissions, and many agencies post major incidents on their websites or social media.
Should I share what I hear on a police scanner?
Use care. Radio traffic is unconfirmed and can involve victims, children or private addresses, so sharing details publicly can cause harm.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: Listening to public safety radio gives an unfiltered picture of what emergency services deal with every night, from barking dogs to serious crimes, and for many people it is an absorbing hobby that can be enjoyed from an armchair. Listeners should remember that codes are not standard across the country, that many agencies now encrypt some or all of their channels, and that what is heard on the air is unconfirmed information about real people. Treating it with discretion, and never using it to go to an active scene, keeps the hobby safe and respectful.
Author Credentials: Ian C. Langtree is a writer, editor, and the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, which he established in 2004 as one of the longest-running independent resources for disability news and information. Over more than two decades, he has written and edited thousands of articles on disability rights, health, accessibility, and assistive technology. Drawing on a global perspective shaped by extensive travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed advocate of the Social Model of Disability, the framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that focuses on removing societal barriers rather than on individual impairments. His writing is grounded in that framework and in a lasting commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.