What does 1042 mean for cops?

Police radio code 10-42 most commonly means the ending of an officer's tour of duty, shift, or watch.

Key Details

• Standard Meaning: In the standard APCO (Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials) ten-code system, 10-41 means beginning a shift, and 10-42 means ending a shift.
• Retirement Tradition: A final "10-42" call is often broadcast over the radio as an emotional sign-off when a law enforcement officer retires or concludes their career.
• Local Variations: Radio codes are not completely uniform. Specific regional or state agencies might use 10-42 for entirely different local meanings—such as a specific traffic stop, an informational broadcast, or a local administrative status.

In law enforcement radio shorthand, the police code 10-42 most commonly means "ending tour of duty" or "ending shift".

Key Meanings and Uses

• End of Shift: An officer radios "10-42" to dispatch when they are finishing their daily work hours or going home. It is frequently paired with 10-7 (out of service).
• End of Watch/Tribute: When an officer retires or passes away in the line of duty, departments often broadcast a ceremonial final "10-42" over the radio to signify that their service is complete.

Local Variations

Police ten-codes are not universally standardized. While "ending shift" is the widespread definition used by many sheriff's offices and municipal departments, some specific regional agencies or state patrols may assign a completely different meaning to 10-42 (such as a check on welfare or an alternate field status). You can review a broader overview of dispatch shorthand via Police Codes Explained.

Police code 10-67 most commonly means a "report of a death" or a "person calling for help," though meanings vary depending on the local agency.

Meanings in Law Enforcement

• Report of a Death: Many police departments use 10-67 to report a deceased person or notify a coroner/medical examiner.
• Person Calling for Help: Some municipal or regional agencies use the code to dispatch help for a person requesting immediate assistance.
• California Penal Code 67: Separate from radio 10-codes, state legal codes like California Penal Code 67 specifically define the crime of offering a bribe to an executive officer.

Note: Because 10-codes are not fully standardized nationwide, the exact definition of code 67 can change from one state, county, or city police department to another.

Police code "311" most commonly refers to the non-emergency telephone number used across the United States and Canada to reach local government and municipal services.

Municipal Non-Emergency Number

• Purpose: Used to report non-urgent issues like potholes, graffiti, noise complaints, or abandoned cars.
• Difference from 911: 911 is reserved for life-threatening emergencies requiring immediate police, fire, or medical response.

Penal Code and Radio Code Meanings

• Obscene Material: In some legal or historical police penal codes (such as California Penal Code Section 311), "311" refers to the possession or distribution of obscene matter.
• Local Variations: Specific regional departments may use "311" as an internal numerical code for minor offenses or tactical signals (such as indecent exposure in select jurisdictions or specific ambulance requests), though it is not a uniform national radio code.

In police radio communication, code 10-42 (or 10-42) means the end of an officer's tour of duty, shift, or watch.

Overview of Code 10-42

• Meaning: Finishing a shift or signing off duty.
• Retirement tradition: It is often broadcast over the radio as a final emotional sign-off when a police officer retires after many years of service.
• Paired code: It is the opposite of 10-41, which means the beginning of a tour of duty.

Important Variations

• Regional differences: Ten-codes are not 100% standard across every region. While 10-42 commonly means ending a shift, a small number of local agencies might use it for a different specific traffic or status alert.