Not Just A Job, It’s An Entire Language, Too

And now you know some of what they’re saying:

Cop-speak is a point of pride among officers, a key element of NYPD style and, as is particularly true of numeric “radio codes,” a way for cops to communicate so civilians won’t understand.

For outsiders, “a lot of it goes over your head or you don’t pick up the nuances or in-between meanings,” Bosak said, “but guys on ‘The Job’ pick up on it right away and understand.”

The radio command “10-4,” meaning “acknowledged,” has established itself in the vocabularies of many civilians. Others, not so much — like “10-98” (back on patrol), “10-30” (robbery in progress) and the urgent “10-13” (officer needs assistance).

Then there’s the favorite, “I’m going 63.” It’s short for “10-63” — a meal break. “That’s the most popular — they gotta eat well,” a retired officer said.