What Is a 10-83 Police Code? 10-83 Police Code

The 10-83 police code meaning for the police forces is Work/School Crossing Detail.

If you’ve ever asked yourself, what is 10-83 Police Code, you’re in the right place. The 10-83 police code is a specific code used by law enforcement to indicate a Work or School Crossing Detail. This type of duty involves managing traffic and ensuring the safety of pedestrians, especially children and workers, at busy crosswalks during school hours or construction periods.

The 10-83 police code is part of the broader APCO (Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials) Ten-Code system. These police radio codes were introduced in the late 1930s to improve communication clarity, reduce radio traffic, and prevent confusion during high-pressure situations. Instead of using long sentences to describe an officer’s location or task, codes like 10-83 offer a concise way to report in.

Understanding the Meaning of 10-83 Police Code: Work/School Crossing Detail

The 10-83 police code, meaning Work/School Crossing Detail, is commonly used when officers are assigned to monitor and manage pedestrian crossings near schools, job sites, or other high-traffic areas. These assignments are crucial in maintaining public safety and order, particularly during rush hours or in zones where children cross frequently.

Law enforcement officers using 10-83 in radio transmissions communicate that they are actively involved in a duty that helps regulate traffic and protect vulnerable pedestrians. It’s a routine but vital responsibility for maintaining safety in the community.

Why Use Police Codes Like 10-83?

Using a standard code such as 10-83 helps ensure consistent, clear, and error-free communication between officers and dispatchers. Rather than describing a crossing detail in full, officers can simply say “10-83,” saving time and avoiding misunderstandings — especially during peak radio usage.

Police codes like 10-83 also help standardize procedures across various departments and jurisdictions. This shared code language enhances coordination, boosts response times, and reinforces situational awareness in real time.

What Is 10-83 Police Code?

The answer to what is 10-83 police code? is simple: it’s the official police radio code used to indicate a Work/School Crossing Detail. Officers assigned to this detail are responsible for ensuring the safe passage of individuals at designated crosswalks, particularly during school or work hours.

Whether you’re studying law enforcement communication or listening to a police scanner, understanding what the 10-83 police code means can help you interpret police activity and radio chatter more accurately.

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Welcome to All Police Codes – Your Source for 10-83 Police Code Information

Welcome to All Police Codes, your trusted online hub for exploring official law enforcement radio signals used across the United States. If you’ve been searching for a detailed explanation of the 10-83 Police Code, you’ve landed on the right page. Our mission is to help readers understand police codes like 10-83, also known as Work/School Crossing Detail, and learn how they are used in real-world police communications.

What Is 10-83 Police Code? Meaning and Real-Life Usage

The 10-83 code is a standardized ten-code used by police officers to indicate Work/School Crossing Detail. This means that an officer has been assigned to manage and supervise pedestrian traffic at locations such as school zones or work/construction crossings. These assignments help ensure the safety of children and workers, especially during busy hours.

Ten-codes like 10-83 allow law enforcement to communicate clearly and efficiently over the radio, avoiding long explanations and reducing errors during transmissions. Using short, numeric radio codes keeps communication fast, direct, and universally understood among agencies.

Why Police Codes Like 10-83 Matter in Law Enforcement

Police departments across the country rely on codes such as 10-83 to maintain order, improve response times, and streamline dispatch operations. Officers often juggle multiple responsibilities, and quick, standardized codes eliminate the need to speak lengthy instructions over the radio — especially critical during emergencies.

Police radio signals like 10-83 Police Code are also helpful for civilians using police scanners to monitor nearby activity. By knowing what each code means, you can gain insight into what’s happening in your local area.

History of Police Codes: The APCO Ten-Signal System

The 10-code system, including 10-83, was originally developed by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO) between 1937 and 1940. These codes were designed to improve radio efficiency and were later expanded in 1974. Interestingly, the idea for using concise radio signals was inspired by earlier U.S. Navy Morse code procedures, which APCO first wrote about in the June 1935 APCO Bulletin.

Today, these codes remain widely used — even though some departments have moved toward plain language, many agencies across the U.S. still use and recognize traditional APCO codes like 10-83.

Free Resource for Police Codes – Why We Built This Site

Our team at All Police Codes has spent years researching and compiling an extensive collection of law enforcement communication signals, including detailed explanations of ten-codes like 10-83. We believe in sharing this knowledge for free, out of respect and appreciation for the emergency responders who protect and serve our communities every day.

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