Emergency Services Codes & Information for Oregon: OSP/Sheriff, ODOT, and Douglas County

Emergency services such as police, fire, and transportation departments (e.g., ODOT) use unique code systems for their communication to ensure clarity, efficiency, and accuracy during critical situations. These codes help identify specific units, agencies, or events, allowing responders to coordinate effectively in real-time.

For example, law enforcement often uses alphanumeric identifiers to signify particular officers, patrol units, or precincts, while fire departments use tone-based dispatch codes or station numbers to mobilize crews quickly. Similarly, transportation agencies like ODOT employ their unit numbers to speak to underling crews; however, still use the Oregon State Police 12-coding system.

These systems standardize communication, reduce confusion across agencies, and expedite response times during emergencies. While each service uses its own code structure tailored to its operations, interoperability is often facilitated when multiple agencies collaborate on larger-scale incidents. Understanding these code systems is vital for anyone involved in or monitoring emergency communications.

Page Sections

Radio Codes

12-Codes

  • 12-1 - In Service
  • 12-2 - Out of Service
  • 12-3 - Return to Office
  • 12-4 - Call Office or Other by Phone
  • 12-5 - Repeat Message
  • 12-6 - Contact Address or Complainant
  • 12-7 - Motor Vehicle Registration Check
  • 12-8 - Motor Vehicle Registration and Legal Owner Check
  • 12-9 - Check PUC Status
  • 12-10 - Check for Operator's License/Driving Status
  • 12-10A - No Valid Operator's License
  • 12-11 - Desire Description from Operator's License
  • 12-12 - Unable to Copy, Change Location
  • 12-13 - Stations and/or Cars Called, Prepare to Copy
  • 12-14 - Relay Following to Station
  • 12-15 - Locate for Emergency Message
  • 12-16 - Motor Vehicle Accident
  • 12-16A - Motor Vehicle Accident, Fatal
  • 12-16B - Motor Vehicle Accident, Injuries, No Ambulance
  • 12-17 - Motor Vehicle Accident, Ambulance Dispatched
  • 12-18 - Dispatch Ambulance
  • 12-19 - Dispatch Tow Vehicle
  • 12-20 - Check Wanted/Stolen Status
  • 12-20A - Can Subject Hear Radio? - Sensitive Information
  • 12-20C - Concealed Handgun Permit
  • 12-21 - No Record or Report on Subject
  • 12-22 - Prior Misdemeanor Record - Not Wanted
  • 12-23 - Prior Felony Record - Not Wanted
  • 12-24A - Subject Wanted - Felony
  • 12-24B - Subject Wanted - Misdemeanor
  • 12-25 - Similar Subject Record, Added Info Required
  • 12-26 - Base Station Going Out of Service
  • 12-27 - Call by Radio on Arrival at Office
  • 12-28 - Suspicious Person
  • 12-29 - Disturbance
  • 12-30 - Reckless Driver
  • 12-31 - Intoxicated Driver
  • 12-32 - Intoxicated Person
  • 12-33 - Emergency - All Stations and Cars Remain Silent
  • 12-34 - Resume Normal Operations and Traffic
  • 12-35 - Abandoned Motor Vehicle
  • 12-36 - Illegal Hunting - Vicinity
  • 12-37 - Advise Road and Weather Vicinity
  • 12-38 - Switch Radio Frequency
  • 12-39 - Attention All Stations
  • 12-40 - Standby
  • 12-41 - Go Ahead with Your Traffic
  • 12-42 - No Traffic
  • 12-43 - Disregard Previous Transmission
  • 12-44 - Accident or Spill - Hazardous Material
  • 12-45 - Burglar Alarm
  • 12-46 - What is the Telephone Number of Your Station
  • 12-47 - Computer Files Temporarily Unavailable
  • 12-48 - Computer Files Now Available
  • 12-49 - Death Investigation
  • 12-49A - Possible Homicide
  • 12-50 - Message Not Radio Traffic, Handle by Phone
  • 12-51 - Sex Offender
  • 12-52 - Radio Technicians Enroute to Your Station
  • 12-53 - Regular Power Out, Using Emergency Power
  • 12-54 - Testing Station, Desire Report of Voice Quality
  • 12-55 - Transmit an Equipment Test, Count 1 to 5
  • 12-56 - No Help Immediately Available
  • 12-57 - Disabled Motorist
  • 12-58 - Narcotic Activity
  • 12-59 - Late Return - Advise My Residence
  • 12-65 - Roll Call of All Units
  • 12-88 - Off Duty
  • 12-94 - All Clear - No Assistance Needed
  • 12-96 - Vehicle Stop - Location and License
  • 12-97 - Radio Check Only - Location Optional (Commonly used to check unit status)
  • 12-98 - Officer Needs Help - Non Emergency
  • 12-99 - Officer Needs Help - Emergency

Unit Identifiers

Oregon State Police (OSP) unit numbers follow a structured four-digit system that provides detailed information about the unit's assignment and function.

  • Station Assignment: The first and second digits represent the station to which the unit is assigned, providing a quick reference to its base location.

  • Unit Identifier: The third and fourth digits identify the specific unit within the station.

    • Example: A unit with the number xx10 is typically the Station Commander, while xx11 indicates the Assistant Station Commander.
  • Specialized Units: Some units replace the second digit with a letter or include a letter between the third and fourth digits to denote specialization.

    • Example: A 7 as the third digit indicates a Fish & Wildlife unit, signifying officers dedicated to natural resource enforcement.

This structured approach allows for clear identification of units and their roles, facilitating efficient communication and coordination across the agency. By incorporating specific codes for station and unit types, OSP ensures that emergency communications are precise and reliable, which is critical for effective law enforcement operations across Oregon.

OSP Station Numbers

  • 11 - Portland
  • 13 - Astoria
  • 14 - McMinnville
  • 15 - St. Helens
  • 17 - Tillamook
  • 21 - Salem
  • 22 - Capital Mall
  • 23 - Albany
  • 24 - University Patrol Office (Oregon State University campus and surrounding area)
  • 25 - Springfield
  • 26 - Newport
  • 31 - Central Point
  • 33 - Coos Bay
  • 34 - Gold Beach
  • 36 - Klamath Falls
  • 37 - Roseburg
  • 41 - Baker City
  • 44 - Milton-Freewater
  • 46 - La Grande
  • 47 - Ontario
  • 48 - Pendleton
  • 49 - Hermiston
  • 51 - Bend
  • 52 - La Pine
  • 53 - The Dalles
  • 54 - Prineville
  • 55 - Madras
  • 59 - Arlington

Specialized Units

  • 8 William XX - Motor Carrier Enforcement
  • 9 X-Ray XX - Mobile Response Team (Riot Team)
  • 9 Zebra XX - SWAT Team

Douglas County Sheriff's Office

Location Codes

  • Station 7: Reedsport Police Department
  • Station 30: Douglas County Sheriff's Office - Roseburg Headquarters
  • Station 31: Douglas County Sheriff's Office - South County Substation
  • Station 32: Douglas County Sheriff's Office - Reedsport Substation
  • Station 33: Oregon State Police - Coos Bay Area Command
  • Station 34: Douglas County Sheriff's Office - Drain Substation
  • Station 37: Oregon State Police - Roseburg Area Command
    • 3710: Roseburg Area Command Lieutenant
    • 3711 & 3712: Patrol Sergeants
    • 3714 to 3739: Patrol Troopers
    • 3750: Criminal Division Sergeant (Detective Sergeant)
    • 3751 to 3759: Detectives
    • 3770: Fish & Wildlife Sergeant (Game Warden)
    • 3771 to 3779: Fish & Wildlife Troopers (Game Wardens)
    • Note: Oregon State Police use the 12 Code System for Police Radio Traffic.
  • Station 210: Myrtle Creek Police Department
  • Station 230: Winston Police Department
  • Station 250: Sutherlin Police Department
  • Station 270: Oakland Police Department (Disbanded and contracted out to Sutherlin PD)
  • Station 6200: Roseburg Police Department

Unit Numbering

  • 1xx: DCSO (Most Units)
  • 1-David-x: DCSO Detectives
  • 21x & 22x: Myrtle Creek PD
  • 23x & 24x: Winston PD
  • 3xx: DCSO Animal Control & Parole / Probation
  • 4xx: DCSO Civil Deputies
  • 66xx: DCSO Search & Rescue (SAR)
  • 7xxx: DCSO Corrections / Court Security
  • 7xx: Reedsport Police
  • 817x: Roseburg VA Medical Center Police
  • 818x: BLM Law Enforcement Rangers
  • Frank 16xx: USFS Umpqua National Forest Law Enforcement
  • Frank 20xx: USFS Siuslaw National Forest Law Enforcement
  • Roseburg-x: Roseburg PD
  • Sutherlin-x: Sutherlin PD

Douglas County Fire Districts

Station Designators & Pagers

  • 1000: Lookingglass Rural Fire Department (Pager 667)
  • 1100: Douglas County Fire District #2 (Pagers 650 - 656)
    • Headquarters - Roseburg
    • Station #1 - Dixonville
    • Station #2 - Green
    • Station #3 - Melrose
    • Station #4 - Winchester
    • Station #5 - Garden Valley
    • Station #6 - Umpqua
    • Station #8 - Myrtle Creek (Usually Ambulance #1178)
    • Station #9 - Sutherlin
    • Station #10 - Calapooia
  • 1300: Roseburg Fire Department (Pagers 501 - 503 & 507)
    • Station #1 - Downtown
    • Station #2 - Harvard Ave.
    • Station #3 - Garden Valley Blvd.
  • 1400: Tri-City Fire District #4
  • 1500: Fairoaks Rural Fire Protection District (Pager 626)
  • 1600: Sutherlin Fire Department (Pagers 610 - 612) - Contracted out to DCFD #2
  • 1700: Winston-Dillard RFPD #5
    • Winston Station (Pager 605)
    • Dillard Station (Pager 606)
  • 1800: Myrtle Creek Fire Department
  • 1900: Canyonville-South Umpqua Fire Department
  • 2000: Tenmile Rural Fire Protection District (Pager 676)
  • 2100: Riddle Rural Fire Protection District (Pager 632)
  • 2200: Glide Rural Fire Protection District
  • 2300: North Douglas County Fire and EMS
    • Drain Station (Pager 640)
    • Yoncalla Station (Pager 680)
    • Rice Hill Station (Pager 673)
    • Curtin Station
    • Goodrich Station
    • Medic 23x: North Douglas County Fire and EMS Ambulances
  • 2400: Oakland Rural Fire Protection District (Pager 621)
  • 2700: Milo Rural Fire Protection District (Pager 681)
  • 2800: Kellogg Rural Fire Department (Pager 673)
  • 2900: Elkton Rural Fire Protection District (Pager 669)
  • 4100: Azalea Volunteer Fire Department (Pager 670)
  • 4200: Camas Valley Volunteer Rural Fire Department (Pager 668)
  • 4300: Days Creek Rural Fire Department (Pager 675)
  • 4400: Glendale Rural Fire Protection District (Pagers 619 & 671)
  • 4700: Scottsburg Rural Fire Department (Pager 674)
  • 4800: Tiller Rural Fire Department (Pager 672)
  • 6700: Glendale Ambulances (Pager 679)
  • 6800: Diamond Lake Volunteer Fire Department
  • 74x: Lower Umpqua Ambulance - Ambulances
  • 8700: Winchester Bay Rural Fire Protection District
  • 8800: Reedsport Volunteer Fire Department
    • Station #1 - Fir Ave. (Shared quarters with Reedsport Police Department)
    • Station #2 - Turner (Frontage Road) Main Station
  • 8900: Gardiner Rural Fire Protection District

Unit Designators

  • 00 - 29: Chiefs, Officers, Personnel
  • 30 - 39: Structure Engines
  • 40 - 49: Reserve Engines
  • 50 - 59: Ladder Trucks
  • 60 - 69: Water Tenders
  • 70 - 79: Ambulances
  • 80 - 89: Wildland / Brush Engines
  • 90 - 99: Utility / Rescue
Reedsport, Winchester Bay, Gardiner, and Lower Umpqua Ambulance use a different numbering system than the Douglas County Fire scheme.

ODOT Station Numbers

ODOT uses their own station numbers such as 7M70.

First Digit: Represents the district the unit is assigned to.

  • Example: 7 indicates District 7.

Letters: Indicate the type of unit.

  • 3PM: Project managers.
  • A: If crews have more than 10 members, A is used for the additional members. e.g 3PM31A
  • B: Bridge crew.
  • E: Electrical crew.
  • FM: e.g., 7FM2 - Field Mechanic.
  • H: Incident response crew (IR) & Hazmat.
  • M: Maintenance crew.
  • R: Region crew
  • S: Sign crew.
  • TC: Environmental / Geology / Geotechnical crew.
  • X: District managers / district staff.

Number Series: Specifies the area within the district.

  • xx7x: Refers to the Shady (Roseburg) / Canyonville maintenance crew.
  • 7X1 is the district 7 manager 8x1 is district 8. Then 2-9 (e.g 7x2) is the rest of the district staff (assistant, permits etc).
  • Rs working with M crews are usually the striping crew.

Example:

  • 7M70:
    • 7: District 7.
    • M: Maintenance unit.
    • 70: Roseburg / Canyonville Area.

There are 14 maintenance districts across the state. Each district is responsible for the day-to-day maintenance and operations of the state highways in their geographic area. Click here for a detailed ODOT District Map.