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Police Jargon

Almost every group has their own unique language or "lingo" to communicate. Police are no different in this respect. This is a list of some common terms used by Killeen Police Officers and their meaning.

AFIS-

Automated Fingerprint Identification System. Persons arrested will have the fingerprints taken electronically which can then be compared if necessary to a database of known fingerprints to identify the person.

 

Air 1-

The county law enforcement helicopter.

 

ASP-

The brand name of a collapsible baton. The term is used generically for similar collapsible batons.

 

Backup-

An additional assisting officer(s).

 

Cage-

The protective screen or enclosure in a police vehicle that separates a prisoner from the officer.

 

Case Number-

A sequential number issued to index or refer to an incident report.

 

Citation-

A traffic ticket or summons.

 

Code 1-

A routine response, no emergency lights and siren.

 

Code 3 or Code Response-

An emergency police response using emergency lights and sirens.

 

Code 6-

Busy on a call.

 

Code 7-

On a meal break.

 

Code 10-

A Tactical Response Unit (SWAT) response.

 

Complainant-

Usually a person calling in an incident. It has an additional legal meaning referring to a person who signs a criminal complaint, the legal instrument charging someone with an offense.

 

CP-

Command Post.

 

CINS Offense-

Pronounced "chins". The legal term for a juvenile offense classified as "Conduct Indicating a Need for Supervision". Juvenile offenses are classified as either CINS or Delinquent Conduct. CINS is the lesser classification in seriousness and includes offenses such as Runaway, Truancy, fine only misdemeanors, etc.

 

Emergency Detention-

A legal process where a peace officer can take a person into custody and transport them to a mental health facility for evaluation.

 

Felony Stop-

Tactics for making a vehicle stop of a vehicle or person(s) suspected of being involved in a felony or other high-risk offense.

 

I/LEADS-

A Records Management System used by the Killeen Police Department to create, store and retrieve information.

 

I/Mobile-

A mobile data terminal application used by the Killeen Police Department to dispatch officers via a mobile computer in a patrol car.

 

In Service-

Going on-duty.

 

Man Down-

An injured or deceased person.

 

OC or OC Spray-

A chemical agent used to subdue a combative person. It's named after the active ingredient Oleoresin Capsicum, the active ingredient in hot peppers.

 

Off Duty Job or Overtime Job-

An extra job, usually security related. Some are official such as working traffic control for a parade while some private entities such as retail stores will hire officers to work security while they are off duty.

 

Officer Safety-

This usually refers to tactics designed to give the officer a measure of safety when dealing with an unknown or possibly dangerous situation.

 

Overheads-

The roof mounted light bar usually found on a marked police car.

 

Out of Service-

Off duty.

 

PC or Probable Cause-

A legal definition of when an officer has enough information to warrant an arrest or search.

 

Peacekeeper-

The Killeen Police Tactical Response Unit armored vehicle.

 

Perimeter-

An area around a crime scene or emergency situation. Usually, police have certain rights to restrict access to the area inside the perimeter to prevent injury, death or destruction of evidence inside the perimeter.

 

Photo Line Up or Line Up-

A viewing of photos or persons to determine if a person was the person observed by a complainant or witness.

 

Reasonable Suspicion-

A legal term referring to when an officer has enough information to warrant a temporary detention or to justify further investigation.

 

Roll-by-

Having a complainant or witness view a detained suspect to identify if he/she was the person the complainant or witness observed. The legal term for this is usually a "show up".

 

Seven Step Approach-

A routine manner of conducting a safe and courteous traffic stop.

 

Screening A Case-

Taking a case to the prosecutor's office to determine if the prosecutor will accept the case for prosecution.

 

Supplement-

A supplemental report. Used to add additional information to an incident report.

 

Suspect-

A person suspected of a crime.

 

Ten Code-

A list of radio codes published by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) to abbreviate radio transmissions such as 10-4 for "Affirmative", etc. No longer officially used by Killeen Police but still heard occasionally.

 

Unit-

Most commonly refers to a police vehicle. Occasionally refers to another officer.