Police Phonetic Alphabet & Radio Codes
Master the LAPD-style phonetic alphabet and radio codes used in FiveM police roleplay. Adam, Boy, Charles... Learn proper radio communication for dispatch and patrol.
Clear radio communication is essential for professional roleplay. The phonetic alphabet prevents confusion when spelling out names, addresses, and license plates. Most FiveM servers use the LAPD-style alphabet (Adam, Boy, Charles...) rather than the NATO alphabet, as it's traditional for American police roleplay.
LAPD Phonetic Alphabet
Use these words to spell out letters clearly over the radio. For example, the license plate "ABC 123" would be spoken as "Adam-Boy-Charles One-Two-Three."
Numbers
Numbers are typically spoken clearly, but some have special pronunciations to prevent confusion (like "niner" for 9 to distinguish it from "five").
Response Codes
Response codes indicate the urgency of a call and how units should respond.
Common Radio Phrases
Standard phrases that keep radio communication brief and clear.
Example Transmissions
"Dispatch, Adam-12 initiating a traffic stop at Main and 5th. California plate Adam-Boy-Charles-1-2-3. White sedan, two occupants."
"Adam-12, 10-97 at 1234 Oak Street on the disturbance call."
"Adam-12, requesting Code 2 backup at my location. Multiple subjects, situation escalating."
"Dispatch, Adam-12 Code 4 at Main and 5th. Warning issued, resuming patrol."
Unit Identifier Format
Most servers use a letter-number format for unit identifiers. The letter often indicates the unit type or zone, while the number identifies the specific unit.