In APCO, Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials 10-codes, 10-67 means "Clear" or "Available for Assignment". It is used by officers or units to indicate that they have completed a call or task and are ready to receive new assignments, ensuring dispatch can efficiently coordinate resources and respond to new incidents.
Here’s how it might be used in a real-world scenario:
- Officer: "Dispatch, unit 12 is 10-67, clear from previous call at Oak Street."
- Dispatch: "10-4, unit 12, new assignment acknowledged."
In this exchange, the officer informs dispatch that their previous task is complete and they are available. Using 10-67 ensures that dispatch can effectively assign units to new calls without delay or overlap.
Operational Purpose
10-67 is essential for maintaining efficient resource management and operational readiness. Timely reporting of availability helps dispatch allocate units to incidents based on proximity, urgency, and workload, reducing response times and optimizing coverage.
This code is commonly used after completing calls such as traffic enforcement (10-63), vehicle investigations (10-64), or incident response (10-50), allowing dispatch to update operational status.
Officer Safety And Coordination
Declaring 10-67 ensures both officers and dispatch maintain situational awareness. Units may acknowledge with 10-4, report location with 10-20, or update temporary status using 10-6. Proper communication prevents confusion, ensures coverage, and facilitates timely assignment of new calls.
Variations And Agency Practices
Some agencies use 10-67 strictly to indicate availability for dispatch, while others include it for administrative tasks such as paperwork completion or equipment checks. Local protocols may define how the code is used, whether units must report location, and any additional status updates required before becoming fully available.
Plain-Language Alternatives
Agencies emphasizing plain-language communication may replace 10-67 with phrases such as:
- "Unit clear and available."
- "Finished previous call, ready for new assignment."
- "Unit back in service."
Related 10-Codes
Codes commonly associated with 10-67 include 10-4 (acknowledgment), 10-20 (location), 10-6 (busy/out of service), 10-23 (arrived on scene/standby), and 10-50 (accident/crash report). Together, these codes support coordinated, safe, and efficient resource management within law enforcement operations.