Talk:Emergency service response codes

Opening heading

 * Have I wrongly classed this article? if so, change it! Dep. Garcia (Talk to Me) 17:23, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

I'm still trying to research the exact origin of "Code 3" and why it was used, but am running into some dead ends. If I don't find anything in a reasonable amount of time I'll pull out the speculative statements. Firerescuelieut 18:19, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

I still can't find any reference to the origin of "Code 3". Later this week I will be citing sources that use "Code 3" and "Hot/Cold" responses, and remove the speculative discussion. Firerescuelieut 23:30, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

I am still looking for references as to the origin of "Code 3". I updated it the best that I could, and included some resources. I also removed all of the speculative discussion until I can cite some sources. Firerescuelieut 01:16, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

The last person who edited this (besides me) put a comment in about how what was originally posted was "way off" from their experience. I left the idea of the addition in the article, but also added back in what was originally posted as well. In the reference section, I put a note stating that there are indeed different meanings for different jurisdictions. It should be noted here that when one does an edit to an article, make sure that what you are saying is correct. What was originally posted may have been "way off" from where the other editor's location is, but for a good portion of the country it was correct. An open mind should be kept at all times that there may be other uses of this in other areas, which is what I tried to convey in the last edit. Firerescuelieut 18:46, 4 September 2007 (UTC)

Code 5
Article said a Code 5 was "Code 5 - Officer needs assistance". I've been a police officer for 18 years & deal with agencies all over the country. I've never heard of that usage. Code 5 is a stakeout in every department I know. Blue Sheepdog (talk) 02:30, 19 June 2009 (UTC)

Yeah, I've never heard of Code 5 being anything other that a stakeout... There is a lot of misinformation in the article. These codes vary drastically from department to department. (stupidscreenname) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 216.64.244.9 (talk) 17:46, 27 November 2010 (UTC)

Yeah I have been in agencies where code 5 was "out of Service, end of Tour". There is no standard and the whole code system is being dumped for plain language with the expansion of encrypted radios. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.241.120.20 (talk) 03:50, 16 September 2012 (UTC)

Move to Code 1?

 * The following discussion is an archived discussion of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on the talk page. No further edits should be made to this section. 

The result of the move request was: moved to generic name as suggested Kotniski (talk) 09:44, 20 May 2011 (UTC)

Code 3 Response → Code 1 Response – According to the article, the majority of the English speaking world use 'code 1' to represent an immediate response, and only the states (and not all of their services) use code 3 to represent running red. Presumably this means that, as Code 1 is the more common term, the article should be directed at that usage with a section on the American alternative term. At the moment we have a lead paragraph on American usage then several sections on how the rest of the world seems to use it differently. S.G.(GH) ping! 09:20, 12 May 2011 (UTC)
 * Why not a generic Response codes? Station1 (talk) 16:22, 12 May 2011 (UTC)
 * I was going to write, "Let's split the difference and call it 'Code 2.'" But, yes, "Response codes" would be a better title. Kauffner (talk) 00:21, 13 May 2011 (UTC)


 * Suggest Emergency vehicle response codes -- since it covers other codes, and it's only response codes by emergency vehicles, not other topics. 184.144.163.181 (talk) 04:54, 13 May 2011 (UTC)
 * I think that's a fair idea. Though maybe Emergency service response codes as not every response code leads to attendance using a vehicle. Many of these codes don't lead to attendance at all. S.G.(GH) ping! 08:55, 13 May 2011 (UTC)


 * Rename to Emergency vehicle response codes which kind of follows the existing Hospital emergency codes. Clearly the article is not about a single code, but rather the collect of codes in various countries. I think vehicle is needed as it is more specific, service in this context is rather ambiguous. Vegaswikian (talk) 18:35, 13 May 2011 (UTC)
 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on this talk page. No further edits should be made to this section.

Code usage obsolescence
Since September 11, 2001 and the revelation that the use of codes is not standardized between emergency response agencies, a move  from the federal government to push all agencies to plain language use on encrypted radios has been made. There was very little standardization between Brevity codes and the fact that some agencies had officers that had a love for using codes meant that you would end up with two and three pages of codes as a new code sequence was created as a new situation arose. This defeated the purpose as many people would have to spend time looking up obscure codes and the system was generally abandoned as secure radio systems became more prevalent. As well, the fact that many state statutes still placed the responsibility on Law Enforcement for any accidents that occurred, the travel modes changed to either emergency response or routine response. Plain language is the standard now. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.241.120.20 (talk) 03:48, 16 September 2012 (UTC)