Lingo, Euphemisms, and Codes:
Graves/mids/dog watch-- midnight shift, usually from 10 pm to 6 or 8 am the next morning, also 12-8
Take paper--write a police report
Scrote--short for scrotum, a fav among beat cops for whichever low life they're taking in that night
BOLF--be on the lookout for
Blow away--to kill with firearm
Clock-- to punch
Pokey--jail, prison
Cash in--to die
Chop shop--where stolen cars are stripped
Stoolie--stool pigeon. Informant or CI (confidential informant) used as a decoy by cops
Bust--arrest
Gang bang-- to gang rape, gang fight
Stiff--DOA or to cheat someone
Grift-- a trick/con
Grifter--swindler/con man
Cop a plea-- to plead guilty to a lesser charge
Finger-- to inform
Rap--prison sentence
Score--buying illegal drugs
Snitch--informant
IA--Internal affairs
Rat--cop who talks to IA against other cops. NYPD skull
Choir practice-- party after shift, it's usually in the city limits and secluded or at someone's house. Alcohol is most likely the beverage of choice
DO-- Desk Officer
WC-- Watch Commander
Dispatch-- dispatch
Sig-9mm--semi automatic (standard issue) holds 16 bullets, 15 in the magazine (not a clip) and one in the chamber. Cops do not rack a round in the chamber when they encounter a bad guy, it's already there and they know it.
One fired bullet is referred to as a round, not a shot. Proper loading procedure is to put in a full magazine, then chamber a round into the gun, remove magazine then insert another round in the magazine
'Wanna a cup?'-- Coffee
Start AMR-- this is used in Ca, it means call an ambulance
Hook 'em up-- handcuff them
Rollin' heavy-- this is lingo an officer will give dispatch when they are about to make a stop. It means the vehicle they are about to pull over is full of people
Strapped-- means carrying a gun
Rolling code-- lights and siren
Wig wag--one light wigs, the other wags. These are the red and blue lights on top of the vehicle
Take down lights-- are the overhead spots on the light bar
Shotgun use-- there is an electronic release mechanism, and the officer needs to hit a button on the box to release it. It will most likely be a 12 gauge single barrel w/ the capacity to hold 5 shells. 1 in the chamber and 4 in the magazine. When you put a shell in the chamber, it's called 'racking a round'
10-4-- acknowledged, it's like saying 'Okay'
Code 4-- I'm okay
Code 7-- Dinner
Code 8--Start a cover-start me one
187--homicide
5150-- crazy
415--disturbance
415 family--family disturbance
Hit the street-- going on patrol
Mocho or booger-- nasty complicated report
Hook and book-- handcuff and process for jail
Perp-- perpetrator, bad guy, suspect, sometimes called an actor
Vic-- victim
Witness--witness
FTO--Field training officer
FNG-- Fucking new guy
FUBAR-- F&*^%$# up beyond all recognition. FUBR also.
Cluster f%^&$-- really messed up situation
Day on the beach-- one-day suspension
Land shark-- Police dog
Fireman-- sleep all day get paid big bucks
PC-- Probable cause, which equals, probable reason to stop for witnessed or suspected criminal activity
Profiling-- stopping a person based on race, sex or social ethniticity
Big House--Cops don't say big house. They use jailer for jailer and cell for cell
Blue dick chaser--female groupie
Beat wife-- sex partner on the job, usually a citizen
Detective-- dick
Security guards-- wannabes
Academy-- 26 weeks.
Duty belt-- 20-25 pounds, includes; gun and holster, 2-3 loaded magazines, 2 sets of cuffs, radio, also referred to as a Motorola, baton, keys, pepper spray. Some carry flashlights others carry it in their sap pocket (a slip down the outside of the pant leg behind the thigh below the butt.)
Sap/baton--asp; collapsible baton. Side handle PR 24. Straight stick
Hog tied-- hobbled feet and hook to hand cuffed hands behind back. Makes for a nice suitcase. Easy to pick up. Used only for combative suspects
Whitewash--Glazing over a bad situation.
Squad--the designated group of officers assigned to a specific day and shift and task
Lineup--roll call for the squad. Briefing-after line up, the squad is informed of the current status of the city and any pertinent details that may apply to that shift
PD-- Police department
In house-- inside the PD proper
10-10-- done, dead. "F-17 at the gate. 10-10." His shift is over. Or a victim can be 10-10, which in this case would mean he's dead
'Ate his gun'--the deceased put a gun into his mouth and shot himself
OD-- overdose
Grey matter-- brains
Lawyered up/ invoked-- requested attorney
Welfare check-- to ascertain the safety of a citizen
GPS--global positioning system
SWAT-- special weapons and tactics
CSI-- crime scene investigator. They do not, interview or work the investigation as a detective would. That is all Hollywood. Techs gather evidence and process it
SOP-- standard operating procedure
Forensics--Where law and science meet. The study of crime and criminal behavior
Miranda--You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to be speak to an attorney, and to have an attorney present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you at government expense.
*Once you have been read your rights, you have been Mirandized
10-3-- radio silence. Ex. 10-3 on the main
11-99-- officer down