“Cop talk” often varies by region and the “10-codes” vary a lot, with some 10-codes completely different from state to state. (To illustrate that point, I’ve included a few 10-codes below that mean polar opposites that could be highly confusing if you’re a cop and responding to the erroneous code!) 10-codes were originally borrowed from truckers and used in police work to keep radio traffic conversation succinct. However, because 10-codes now vary so drastically from region to region, there is a move to do away with the codes to avoid causing confusion between agencies.
The other slang on the list is fairly universal cop talk that you might hear from different areas; others are unique and I included them because they are intriguing or outright humorous.
This is not meant to be a thorough or exhaustive list, mind you, as that would fill up an entire book. Consider this list just something to whet your appetite.
| 5150: | Mental health case or a person who is a danger to themselves |
| 10-40: | Can mean “I’m on a meal break” OR “Shots fired” (Obviously, this is an example of how the 10-codes can confuse and cause communication problems!) |
| 10-42: | Ending tour of duty |
| 10-45: | Can mean everything from “I’m on a coffee break” to “Fatality” to “Animal Carcass on road” |
| 10-74: | “No,” “Negative,” “Nada,” “Zip,” “Zilch” |
| 11-99: | Officer down |
| 10-4: | Okay/Acknowledgement |
| 10-8: | Adjective that means “a good piece of equipment” (That car is 10-8!”/Also means “In service” or “available for next call” |
| 10-20: | Location (“What’s your 10-20?”) |
| Aggravated Mopery: | When a cop can’t think of anything else, this charge can be put forth |
| ART: | Assuming Room Temperature |
| Ate His Gun: | Suicide by placing gun in mouth and shooting self |
| Badge Bunny: | A female officer who is attracted to and pursues other officers |
| Beat Wife: | A sex partner on the job, usually a citizen |
| Blue dick chaser: | Female groupie who is attracted to a law enforcement officer |
| Blue flame: | Know it all rookie who will soon burn out |
| Blue hair: | Elderly person |
| BOLF: | Be On Lookout For |
| Bracelets: | Handcuffs |
| Cage: | Patrol car |
| Chester: | Child molester |
| Choir Practice: | Cops gathering in bar or possibly somebody’s home to have a drink or get loose before heading home after duty |
| Clusterfuck: | A really screwed up situation |
| Collared: | Arrested |
| Dance: | To fight |
| Diaper dick: | Child sex crimes investigator |
| Dickless Tracey: | Female detective who nobody respects |
| DMV: | Dead Man Walking—Refers to cop who has pissed off other officers or supervisors and whose days are numbered |
| Drop a dime: | Tipping off cops about criminal activity |
| DRT: | Dead Right There |
| DWHUA: | Driving While Head Up Ass |
| DWO: | Driving While Old |
| Five-by-nine: | A prison cell |
| FNG: | Fucking New Guy (A rookie cop) |
| Frequent Flyer: | Someone who ends up in jail often |
| FUBR: | Fucked Up Beyond Recognition |
| Geeked up: | High on meth |
| Good pop: | Nice arrest |
| Good: | Good, to a cop, means “bad” to the rest of us. Such as “a good crime,” “a good accident,” or “a good burglary.” Not sure of the origin of this, but there’s the idea that cops want to handle “bad” incidents because that’s what keeps them interested. Thus, a “bad” accident to us is good to a cop. Confusing, I realize, but not if you’re a cop. |
| Hairpiece: | An older cop who is an idiot/A dottering old cop who has lost his edge |
| HBD: | Had Been Drinking |
| Heart-to-heart: | A “come to Jesus” meeting/interview (“Let’s cut to the chase and get to the truth.” |
| Hinky: | Suspicious; not right |
| Hook ‘Em: | Handcuff |
| Hook ‘n’ Book: | Handcuff and process for jail |
| Hooked: | Arrested |
| Hump: | (Noun) An idiot |
| Jammed Up: | To get in trouble |
| JDLR: | Just Doesn’t Look Right |
| Kiddie cop/Lolly Cop: | School resource officer |
| Knee-to-knee: | Interrogation of suspect in interview room |
| Like: | A determination that a suspect is guilty of a crime (“I like John for the assault.”) |
| Little Bastards: | Juvenille offender |
| Mowing the lawn: | Sucking up to the brass |
| Mushrooms: | Night shift officers |
| Old hat: | Veteran cop |
| Out on a personal: | Need to use bathroom really badly |
| P.O.P.O.: | Pissing Off the POlice |
| Perp: | Short for “perpetrator” |
| Pickle Suit: | Deputy Sheriff’s green uniform |
| Polishing his nose: | Same as Mowing the Lawn |
| Pup: | Young officer |
| Rabbit blood: | A runner, a perp with a history of running from cops |
| Rabbit Range: | Game warden |
| Rabbit Ranger: | Fish and game officer |
| ROAD: | Retired On Active Duty (a.k.a., a lazy cop) |
| Roll Over: | When a co-defendant agrees to testify against their other co-defendant, often in exchange for a lighter sentence |
| Scope out: | Look at, watch |
| Scrote: | Nasty person who has a criminal vibe |
| Shitbag: | Offender |
| Shop and Rob: | A convenience store |
| Sit up, sitting up: | Surveillance of suspect |
| Skell: | Homeless, smelly person |
| Slot: | Arrest (“I slotted the perp.”) |
| Slug: | A patrol officer or detective who is more useful as a doorstop than as a cop |
| Stroke/juice: | Power or respect |
| SWAG: | Scientific Wild Ass Guess |
| Swatter: | SWAT cop |
| SWOT: | Strategic Waste Of Time |
| Take Paper: | Write a police report |
| The Old Man: | The boss |
| Three hots and a cot: | Three hot meals and a place to sleep/A brief stay in jail. |
| Tits Up: | Body found on his/her back |
| Toss: | Perform a search |
| Toss: | Search |
| Tweakin’, tweaker: | A meth head |
| Vic: | Victim |
| Weenie Whacker: | Indecent exposure |
| Went Left: | Person or situation that has gone bad |
Copyright © 2024 by Laurel Dewey. All rights reserved.
