What Is a 273 Police Code? 273 Police Code

The 273 police code meaning for the police forces is Assault On Person.

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “What is 273 police code?”, you’re not alone. The 273 police code is a specific numeric shorthand used by law enforcement to indicate Assault on a Person. This code is part of a broader system of numerical codes designed to streamline police communication, especially during urgent situations where every second matters.

The 273 police code meaning is straightforward yet crucial—when officers refer to “273,” they are signaling a situation involving assault on a person. This can include any physical attack or threat of violence directed at an individual, depending on the jurisdiction’s legal definitions. Law enforcement agencies often rely on these types of codes to maintain clarity and precision in high-stakes scenarios.

Why Are Police Codes Like 273 Used?

Police departments across the country use codes like 273 police code for several practical reasons:

Speed: Saying “273” is much quicker than saying “assault on a person” over the radio.
Clarity: Numeric codes reduce the risk of miscommunication, especially during high-pressure events.
Efficiency: These codes are part of a standardized communication protocol that allows officers to react quickly and stay informed without lengthy explanations.

By using the 273 police code, officers can immediately understand the nature of the incident without needing further elaboration, which is especially important when coordinating responses with multiple units or agencies.

What Is Assault on a Person? – The Offense Behind the 273 Police Code

Assault on a person, designated by the 273 police code, typically involves an intentional act that causes another person to fear imminent bodily harm or actual physical injury. This can include:

Physical attacks (e.g., hitting, punching, kicking)
Threats of violence accompanied by the ability to carry them out
Use of weapons in a threatening or harmful manner

It’s important to note that the exact definition of assault and the situations it covers can vary by state or police department. However, in most jurisdictions, the 273 police code is universally understood to represent this serious offense.

What Is 273 Police Code?

If you’re wondering “What is 273 police code?”, the answer is simple: it stands for Assault on a Person. This code plays a vital role in police communication, enabling officers to respond swiftly and appropriately to situations involving physical threats or violence. Whether you’re studying criminal justice, researching police procedures, or just curious about law enforcement terminology, understanding what the 273 police code means helps you better comprehend how police departments operate behind the scenes.

Main Police Codes
Alphabet For Police
California Penal Codes
Emergency Response Codes
Police 10 Codes
Police 11 Codes
Police Abbreviations
Police Nicknames
Police Radio Codes
Police Scanner Codes
Texas Penal Codes

Welcome to the Ultimate Police Codes Lookup Resource

All police codes and law enforcement radio signals are right here—welcome to the most comprehensive police code lookup website available online. Whether you’re a curious citizen, aspiring officer, researcher, or scanner enthusiast, we’ve gathered and organized every major police code used across the United States, including the widely searched 273 Police Code. Our goal is to make police communications easier to understand and accessible to everyone.

For years, we’ve dedicated ourselves to researching, compiling, and sharing accurate information about police codes, ten-codes, and law enforcement signals. These codes form the backbone of fast, effective communication between emergency response teams, allowing police officers, dispatchers, firefighters, and EMTs to quickly respond to critical situations and coordinate efforts in real time.

Our site is designed as a free educational resource for police codes in the U.S., and we’re proud to share it with the public. From the 273 Police Code to the full range of ten-codes (10 codes), signal codes, and scanner codes, we aim to keep you informed. While the information here is provided at no cost, we do feature ads on the site to help cover operational and hosting expenses. We do this because we are passionate about law enforcement communications and the brave men and women who protect and serve our communities.

What is the 273 Police Code?

The 273 Police Code is just one of many codes used by law enforcement to represent specific events, actions, or reports. You can monitor this and other codes using a police scanner or radio frequency app, which allows civilians to listen in on real-time emergency broadcasts in their area. Understanding these codes provides deeper insight into how police respond to incidents and maintain public safety.

The History and Evolution of Police Codes

Police radio codes have a long and fascinating history. The use of brevity codes began between 1937 and 1940, and the standardized system was significantly expanded in 1974 by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO). APCO played a key role in developing the 10-code system, originally created to streamline radio transmissions and reduce miscommunication in high-stress situations.

Before voice radio, Morse code was used in emergency communication. In fact, APCO proposed the first set of brevity codes for Morse transmissions in the June 1935 issue of The APCO Bulletin, drawing influence from U.S. Navy communication procedures. While these early systems were limited to Morse, the shift to voice communication revolutionized the way first responders operate.

Common Police Codes Used Daily

Some of the most commonly used police codes include:

10-4: Acknowledged / Affirmative
10-7: Out of Service
10-8: In Service
10-20: Location
10-42: Officer’s End of Tour

For example, when a police officer retires or ends their shift, they may radio in with a “10-7” (out of service) followed by a “10-42” (end of duty), signifying the end of their active watch. These signals carry deep meaning and tradition within law enforcement culture.

Explore Our Full Police Code Database

From state-specific signals to nationwide standards, our website features hundreds of police codes, including the full 10-code list, signal codes, scanner codes, and more. Whether you’re looking up the 273 Police Code meaning, listening to scanner chatter, or studying to become a dispatcher, our site is your go-to source.

Discover more about Police Codes