[Scan-DC] Arlington County PD Unit Numbering

[Doug Kitchener]

Just for grins:  

In Montgomery County, the DUI units are numbered 9-Whiskey #!  :)

The canine units used to be 9-King (#); now they're just K9 # (or Canine #).

Re the numbers like "451" in Arlington; I believe that in Montgomery, the traffic units are similarly all 3-digit # in the 50s, with the station (or district) # being the first digit, ie 151, 351, 351, 451, 551, 651 being traffic units from Rockville, Bethesda, Silver Spring, Wheaton, Germantown, and Gaithersburg respectively.  Some of them operate either cars or motorcycles - if on a motorcycle, the call would be Motor 451; if in a cruiser, just 451 (or maybe Car 451).  Point being that Arlington may be using something similar.

More relatively useless information to complicate things:

In Ocean City MD, the cops there go by their badge numbers, which are 8000-numbers (ie, 8458).  Worcester County Sherrifs have 6000-numbers, ie 6440.

DK

----------------------------------------
> From: andrew_w_clegg at hotmail.com
> To: stapledavid at gmail.com; scan-dc at mailman.qth.net
> Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:17:01 -0500
> Subject: Re: [Scan-DC] Arlington County PD Unit Numbering
>
> Hi Dave --
>
> I hesitate to reply, because I certainly can't explain the Arlington
> numbering system to the standard of detail that others in this group have
> described numbering for other localities, but since nobody else has replied,
> here's my very simplistic understanding:
>
> Police unit numbers are usually something like Charlie 23, or Baker 31 (or
> even Adam 12 -- I like that one!)
>
> The letter of the unit is the schedule (A = daywatch, B=evenings,
> C=midnights)
>
> The first digit of the unit number is the district (1, 2, or 3) that unit is
> based in. A district map can be found here:
> http://www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/Police/districts/PoliceDistrictsDistrict1.aspx.
>
> The full number refers to the beat within the district.
>
> The smaller the number, the more important the person is (Baker 1 is the
> evening commander, for example).
>
> There are also special identifiers, like "Motor 1". Those are the motorcycle
> officers.
>
> Then there's "P40" like numbers. Those are the meter maids (sorry, parking
> enforcement). They usually aren't on the dispatch channel, unless there's an
> emergency.
>
> There are also designators for DUI enforcement. I can't recall right off the
> top of my head what those are -- sorry. I'll remember as soon as I send this
> email.
>
> I hear unit numbers that I can't explain -- like I just heard Unit 451 on a
> traffic stop. I don't know how those numbers are defined. Maybe those are
> dedicated to traffic enforcement?
>
> That's about the extent of my understanding. I am certain that this is a
> gross oversimplification and someone on this list can provide an entire
> textbook on the topic, but I thought I'd chime in a little instead of
> leaving your question unanswered.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Andy