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Can anyone explain how to interpret the numbers used to designate patrol cars in Seattle? I understand that the letter in the middle is the sector, but what are the prefix and suffix numbers?

Here are some examples:

2-Charlie-1
2-Charlie-01
George-4
3-Henry-82

I actually just heard them refer to the first two in the above list at the same time, so -1 and -01 are not the same. Also, sometimes they'll refer to them as "446" or such, which I assume is the actual vehicle number... why do they use that instead of the unit designation?

Thanks!

The first number is their shift (1-3), the letter is what sector of the city they are in, and the 2nd number is their patrol "beat". Some of the letters are representative of the neighborhood they are in, but some are not. For example, 1 William 1 is first shift, West Seattle (W) beat 1. The cars with 3 numbers only is not the vehicle number :roll: . Most of the 3 digit call signs are non-patrol units like detectives.

ok here it is in a nutshell

1st number is the watch (1st., 2nd, or 3rd)

letter is the sector (nora - north seattle, boy - ballard, lincoln - lake city, union - university, ect.)

third number is a patrol designator and can be an area as usual or can be a type ie, units ending in 10 are jail vans (paddywagons)

a fourth number ie. 3 nora 21 is a second car in an area 3 nora 22 would a third car assigned to the same area

if a car has no third number ie. 3 lincoln it is that sectors sargent

3 number units ie. 231 are detective units or lieutenants and higher

other unit types you might hear are

cso# - community service officer (non-commissioned officers that assist with various duties)

DOC# - Dept. of Corrections units on seattle air these are community corrections officers (parole officers) that assist is serving warrants on people under DOC supervision and assist with complete backrounds on felons (they can view sealed files on felons under supervision)

Paul units are PEO's (Parking enforcement officers)

Tom units are traffic units and have no specific area