[K3PZN-List] Virginia State Police are dropping 10 codes in day-to-day operations.

[Neeriemer, Bill (NIH/NLM/LHC) [C]]

I saw an article in today's Washington Post.  This is the 'Official'
press release.

GOVERNOR KAINE ANNOUNCES VIRGINIA'S FIRST RESPONDERS TO MOVE TO COMMON
LANGUAGE

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced progress in an
effort to get Virginia's first responders and public safety personnel to
shift to common language instead of 10-codes in day-to-day operations
and mutual aid events. The common language protocol will be formally
announced at the 2006 Virginia Interoperable Communications Conference,
to be held October 3-4 in Portsmouth.

The State Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC) and Commonwealth
Interoperability Coordinator's Office (CICO) determined a common
language protocol that allows the use of plain English for most
transmissions. The initiative has been endorsed by the Virginia
Association of Chiefs of Police, Virginia Sheriffs Association, Virginia
Fire Chiefs Association, Virginia Association and the Virginia State
Police.

"The use of coded language often can result in confusion and
miscommunication because local, regional and state public safety
agencies use different codes. This is a problem especially during mutual
aid incidents where multiple jurisdictions and disciplines must work
together," Governor Kaine said. "Virginia is leading the way in reaching
an understanding across our public safety community to take this
significant step towards improved interoperability."

While the National Incident Management System (NIMS) requires common
language for mutual aid situations, Virginia recognizes responders will
default to their training in high-stress situations. Virginia took NIMS
requirements one step further by encouraging common language usage on a
day-to-day basis for all responders.

"If responders do not use common language on a daily basis they will
revert back to the codes they have always used in a crisis situation,"
said Charlottesville Fire Chief and SIEC Chairman Charles Werner.

"There will still be certain situations in which public safety
professionals need coded language to do the job safely," said Colonel W.
Steven Flaherty, Superintendent of the Virginia State Police. "But for
the majority of incidents, the use of common language will be of great
benefit for those responding to and managing a scene."

Following the Oct. 3-4 conference, the SIEC and the CICO will continue
to obtain endorsements from Virginia's public safety community and work
with training academies across the state to begin training on the
protocol.

73 Bill W3STG