In APCO, Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials 10-codes, 10-45 means "Animal Carcass" or "Dead Animal". It is used to report deceased animals on roadways or public areas, enabling dispatch to coordinate removal, ensure public safety, and prevent traffic hazards.
Here’s how it might be used in a real-world scenario:
- Officer: "Dispatch, 10-45, deer on Highway 12 near exit 7, blocking right lane."
- Dispatch: "10-4, unit 7, alert maintenance for removal, and divert traffic if possible."
In this exchange, the officer is reporting a deceased animal. Using 10-45 ensures dispatch can alert appropriate personnel, coordinate traffic management if needed, and maintain public safety.
Operational Purpose
10-45 is essential for maintaining safe roadways and public spaces. Quick reporting of dead animals prevents accidents, reduces traffic delays, and allows for timely cleanup by public works or animal control departments. Officers can focus on public safety while dispatch coordinates removal and monitoring.
This code also supports documentation of incidents for records, including location, type of animal, and any related traffic disruptions or hazards.
Officer Safety And Coordination
Declaring 10-45 ensures that units are aware of potential hazards and can approach the scene safely. Officers may report temporary unavailability with 10-40 while managing the situation, acknowledge instructions with 10-4, and provide location updates with 10-20 to coordinate traffic control or clean-up operations.
Variations And Agency Practices
Some agencies use 10-45 strictly for roadways, while others include public parks, trails, or urban areas. Local procedures may define which personnel are responsible for removal, documentation requirements, and whether follow-up reports or notifications to animal control or environmental services are required.
Plain-Language Alternatives
Agencies emphasizing plain-language communication may replace 10-45 with phrases such as:
- "Dead animal reported."
- "Animal carcass on roadway."
- "Hazardous animal obstruction."
Related 10-Codes
Codes commonly associated with 10-45 include 10-4 (acknowledgment), 10-20 (location), 10-6 (busy), 10-23 (arrived on scene/standby), and 10-46 (assist motorist/vehicle). Together, these codes support safe, efficient, and coordinated response to non-emergency hazards.