What Is a 245 Police Code? 245 Police Code

The 245 police code meaning for the police forces is Assault With A Deadly Weapon (Sometimes called ADW).

If you’re wondering what is a 245 Police Code, you’re not alone. The 245 police code is one of the most serious and commonly referenced codes in California’s law enforcement system. Officially, the 245 police code refers to Assault with a Deadly Weapon, often abbreviated as ADW. This charge is taken very seriously and can result in felony charges depending on the circumstances of the case.

245 Police Code Explained

Under California Penal Code Section 245(a)(1), assault with a deadly weapon occurs when someone attacks or attempts to attack another person using any object that could cause great bodily injury or death. This includes obvious weapons like guns and knives, but can also involve other objects used in a dangerous manner—such as bats, vehicles, or even blunt instruments.

Police officers use the code “245” to quickly communicate this serious charge over radio systems and in reports. For example, an officer might say, “We have a 245 in progress,” meaning there’s an active situation involving an assault with a deadly weapon.

History of Police Codes in California

To understand the 245 police code better, it’s useful to know a bit about police radio communication. California police codes were developed in 1937 by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) as a standardized way to streamline communication among law enforcement. These became known as APCO Ten Signals, which evolved into a set of short numeric codes used today.

What Is Assault with a Deadly Weapon (ADW)?

Assault With a Deadly Weapon (ADW), as identified by the 245 Police Code, is a violent crime that involves an attempt or threat to harm another person using a weapon capable of inflicting serious injury. This offense does not necessarily require actual physical contact—just the attempt or threat while possessing or using a deadly weapon may qualify.

Depending on the situation, a 245 charge can be classified as a felony or a misdemeanor, influenced by factors such as:

The type of weapon used
The severity of the injury (if any)
The victim’s status (e.g., if the victim is a law enforcement officer)
Intent and prior criminal history

Convictions under Penal Code 245 may lead to jail or prison time, probation, heavy fines, and a permanent criminal record.

Why Understanding Police Codes Matters

Whether you’re a law student, criminal justice professional, or just a curious citizen, understanding what the 245 police code means gives you insight into how the legal system classifies violent offenses. It also highlights how law enforcement uses efficient communication tools like numeric codes to ensure public safety.

What Is 245 Police Code?

In short, it stands for Assault with a Deadly Weapon, a serious criminal offense under California law. If you hear “245 in progress” on a police scanner, it indicates a potentially dangerous and violent situation.

Learning police codes like 245 helps build a deeper understanding of law enforcement procedures, criminal justice terminology, and California’s penal system.

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Your Ultimate Guide to Police Codes in the United States – Learn, Explore, and Understand

Welcome to All Police Codes, your comprehensive and authoritative resource for everything related to police codes, radio signals, and emergency communication protocols in the United States. Whether you’re a curious citizen, a student of criminal justice, a law enforcement enthusiast, or someone who simply wants to understand what they’re hearing on a police scanner, our platform is built for you.

We’ve carefully compiled a vast database of police codes, including the well-known 245 police code, as well as dozens of other commonly used law enforcement signals and codes from across the U.S. These codes play a crucial role in ensuring quick, efficient, and discreet communication between emergency services personnel.

What is 245 Police Code?

The 245 code typically refers to assault with a deadly weapon, a serious charge used by police departments in many jurisdictions. It’s one of the many numeric shorthand codes used to communicate critical incidents over the radio. You can often hear the 245 police code being used live via police radio scanners or broadcast services, especially during real-time emergencies.

Why Police Codes Matter

Police radio codes—often called 10-codes, signal codes, or law enforcement radio codes—were developed to help emergency responders communicate effectively without revealing sensitive information to the public. These codes streamline communication and reduce radio transmission time, which is vital during life-threatening situations.

At All Police Codes, we’ve spent years researching, analyzing, and compiling these codes so that you can easily access a reliable, up-to-date source of police signal meanings. Our team is passionate about public safety, emergency response systems, and the language of law enforcement professionals.

The History of Police Radio Codes

The origin of police codes dates back to the late 1930s. Between 1937 and 1940, the first versions of these codes were implemented to standardize police radio communication. A significant update occurred in 1974 when the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO) expanded and formalized many of the codes still used today.

Interestingly, the very first version of these brevity codes was published in The APCO Bulletin in June 1935, with inspiration drawn from U.S. Navy Morse code procedures. Although originally designed for Morse code communication, the concept evolved into the voice-radio format that’s still widely used by police departments, sheriffs, and first responders across the country.

Commonly Used Police Codes

Some of the most frequently used police 10-codes include:

10-4 – Acknowledgement or affirmation (“Message received”)
10-7 – Out of service
10-8 – In service or on duty
10-20 – Location
10-42 – Officer’s end of tour of duty

One particularly meaningful use of these codes happens during an officer’s final radio call. The dispatcher may declare a “10-7” to indicate the officer is out of service, followed by a “10-42,” signifying their last tour of duty—often used in retirement or in honor of fallen officers.

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All the police code information available on this website is completely free to use. Our mission is to spread awareness and educate the public about police communication systems. We do this out of respect for the law enforcement community and a passion for the systems that support public safety.

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Stay Informed, Stay Empowered

Understanding police radio codes not only helps you follow along with live police scanner broadcasts but also gives you deeper insight into how emergency responders coordinate their actions to protect and serve communities across America.

Bookmark All Police Codes and check back regularly—we’re continuously updating our database, adding more codes, and providing context to help you stay informed and aware.

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