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POLICE
DEPARTMENT GETS RID OF RADIO CODES;
AMONG 1ST IN THE VALLEY TO MOVE TOWARD CLEAR SPEECH
As the
Valley continues to grow, it’s becoming increasingly important for
law enforcement agencies to be able to communicate with one another.
The Peoria Police Department is one of the first law enforcement
agencies in the Valley to move away from traditional radio codes,
including “ten codes,” and toward a clear speech format.
Peoria Police Chief David Leonardo says the move will help prevent a
communication breakdown during a crisis. “Clear speech will help to
improve interoperability and working relationships between law
enforcement agencies and other City departments responding to
emergencies. Valley radio codes are different from agency to agency
making it difficult to communicate. Standardization and simplicity,
in the form of clear speech, is the key to success in an emergency.”
A clear speech committee spent months studying the codes used by the
Peoria Police Department. It found, among other things, the use of
codes is not easier than communicating in plain English and does not
save time. The final result – the Department officially retired 92%
of its radio codes and 75% of its “ten codes.” The only codes
remaining are those relating to sensitive situations that may
protect the safety of either officers or the public.
For
more information, contact Public Information Officer Shelly Watkins
at (623) 773-8052.
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