Finally there was the lingo of the squad room. Dispatcher terminology was terse and correct, with no exposition to help a listener understand it. The faithful came to know that an APB was an all-points bulletin, and running a car through DMV meant checking with the Department of Motor Vehicles. When officers were sent on a 211, a 484, a 459, a 390, a 415, or a 311, that meant robbery, theft, burglary, a drunk, disturbing the peace, or lewd conduct, the numbers corresponding to the real sections of the penal code. R&I meant Record and Identification; a suspect's physical characteristics were recorded on his I-sheet. MO was method of operation. And so it went, the terms washing over a listener in a way that was strangely enhanced by not being explained and completely understood.
( John Dunning )
[ On the Air: The Encyclopedia ]
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