Last Updated: February 21, 2005.

If you are new to scanning the Shelby County Sheriff's Department (SCSD), you may be wondering about some of the things you're hearing in their radio traffic. This document attempts to explain some of the jargon you may hear when scanning SCSD. It should be noted that I am not employed by or otherwise affiliated with SCSD, MPD, or any police agency. The observations below are my own, but I hope they help you. If any information below is incorrect, please email s {-at-} shat.net with corrections.

Common Abbreviations

255: Often heard, as: "255 In Service." A variable number, typically in the 200 range. This is a deputy's car number. In this document, 255 and 222 are used as car numbers. Sometimes you will hear numbers outside the 200 range used as call numbers; these typically indicate specialty employees of SCSD who are driving vehicles other than SCSD cruisers. For example, 6630 is a transport vehicle for inmates.

RQ: Often heard, as: "Can I get an RQ on ..." Means: Registration Query. The deputy is asking the dispatcher to look up information about a car with Tennessee tags, or with nearby-state (MS, AR) tags as specified by the deputy. An RQ request is followed by the car's license plate.

DQ: Often heard, as: "Can I get a DQ on ..." Means: Driver Query. The deputy is asking the dispatcher to look up information about an individual. Normally, the DQ request is followed by a driver's license number. If the subject does not have a driver's license, the deputy will use SSN as a second choice. Occasionally, if the subject has no ID at all, a deputy will request a DQ by the person's name.

QV: Often heard as: "Can I get a QV on ..." Means: Query Vehicle. The deputy is asking the dispatcher to look up information about a car with out of state tags. A QV request is followed by the car's license plate.

GQ: Rarely heard, as: "Can I get a GQ on ..." Means: Gun Query. The deputy is asking the dispatcher for information on a gun registration. This will usually be followed by the serial number of the firearm or permit.

BQ: Rarely heard, as: "Can I get a BQ on ..." I believe this is a Boat Query where the deputy is asking the dispatcher for registration information about a boat being towed behind a vehicle. May not exist - may have misinterpreted some DQs.

NCIC: Rarely heard, as: "Negative NCIC ..." Means: National Crime Information Center. Normally heard from dispatch in response to a DQ, this indicates whether or not a subject has any outstanding warrants nationwide. From my scanning experience, NCIC is frequently down or unable to be queried (your tax dollars at work).

Jargon and Glossary

Check: Often heard, as: "Check 255." Means: Received OK. Deputies and dispatchers will use "check" to indicate that they received and understood the message. The syntax order generally determines which end of the conversation is speaking; i.e. "255 Check" is car #255 acknowledging the dispatcher, and "Check 255" is the dispatcher acknowledging car #255's last transmission. Often, when dispatch checks, they will issue a timestamp as well, such as "check 255 fourteen fifty-three" to indicate 2:53 PM. Deputies do not issue timestamps.

Code 1: Often heard, as: "Respond code 1." Means: Silent Alarm. The dispatcher is directing the deputy to respond to the call with no lights or sirens. Typically used for low-priority calls or when there is e.g. a prowler who would flee if he saw/heard the cops coming.

Code 2: Often heard, as: "Respond code 2." Means: Lights. The dispatcher is directing the deputy to respond to the call with his lightbar on, but no siren. Used on most calls, this allows the deputy to proceed with speed but without causing alarm.

Code 3: Often heard, as: "Respond code 3." Means: Lights and Siren. The dispatcher is directing the deputy to respond to the call with lights and siren turned on. Typically used in emergency situations.

Direct: Often heard, as: "255 are you direct?" Means: Heard Prior Transmission About Me. For example, if car #222 calls dispatch and asks for car #255 to meet him at a location, the dispatcher may ask, "255 are you direct?" Meaning, "Car #255, did you just hear the message that car #222 sent to me about you?" If yes, car #255 would respond "255 direct," indicating he had heard car #222's request. This saves the dispatcher from having to waste time repeating the entire request.

Hold Routine Traffic: Rarely heard, as "All units hold routine traffic ..." Means: Listen, Don't Talk. Just what it says, this order comes from the dispatcher if there is a serious (e.g. gunshot) situation going on, or if there is a lengthy broadcast coming from either a dispatcher or another agency. For example, in the case of a missing person or an AMBER Alert, dispatch may call Hold Routine Traffic while a one-minute-plus broadcast regarding the missing person is sent out to all cars. During an HRT, deputies are not supposed to call in unless they're involved in the situation.

In Service: Often heard, as: "255 In Service." Means: Available for Calls. Occasionally shortened, as "255 In." After a deputy is either dispatched to a call, or goes Special, the dispatcher marks them unavailable to respond to calls. Once they finish the task, they will radio In Service. This means they're ready to be dispatched elsewhere.

Occupied: Often heard, as: "Occupied one female white." Means: Who's In the Car. When calling in an RQ or QV, a deputy will often indicate who is inside the car. The driver is listed first. For example, if a deputy pulls over a car with tag JUV-123, driven by a white female with two black male passengers, the call would likely be "255 show me special at [location] with Tennessee Juliet Uniform Victor 1 2 3, occupied one female white two male black."

Respond: Often heard, as: "255 Respond ..." Means: Go to Call. The dispatcher is sending a deputy to respond to a call. Details regarding the nature of the call either precede or follow the Respond order. Normally given in conjunction with a Code 1, Code 2, or Code 3 designation. Frequently in the form, "255 Residential alarm, covers front and rear entry, 8850 Foo Cove, eight eight five oh Foo cove, respond code 1."

Rolling: Sometimes heard, as: "Can I get a rolling RQ on ..." Means: Driving / Not Stopped. The deputy suspects that the car he's following is up to something, but does not yet have reason to pull it over. He calls dispatch to see if there is anything wrong. Frequently used in cases of suspected expired tags. For example, a call for a rolling QV would mean that the deputy is tailing a vehicle from out of state and wants information about the car. If dispatch indicated that the car was stolen, or that the tags were expired, the deputy would go "special" with this subject. Most rolling RQs/QVs wind up negative.

Signal 13: Occasionally heard, from dispatcher only. Means: Unknown - I don't hear this very often. Web research shows that in other areas, it tends to indicate an emergency situation, i.e. an "officer panic" type of call. However, I have not gotten that impression from my experience scanning SCSD, it seems to be used casually. (Perhaps it's the 10-23, bathroom break?) Please email with further info.

Special: Often heard, as: "255, show me special at [location] ..." Means: Non-dispatched Call. The most common use of the "special" status is when a deputy pulls a car over for a traffic violation. A special call will usually involve an implied RQ. For example, it is common to hear something like "255 show me special, 40 and 64, Tennessee Quebec Quebec Uniform 5 1 8, green Chevy Cavalier occupied one male black, one female white." The dispatcher will automatically reply with the RQ information for TN QQU-518. When a deputy is "special," he or she will generally not be dispatched to a call.