LAPD phonetic alphabet
At some point in the early history of emergency service mobile radio systems, the
Los Angeles Police Department instituted its own
phonetic alphabet for relaying precise word spellings. Despite the development in 1941 of the
Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet and its replacement, circa 1955, by the
NATO phonetic alphabet, the
LAPD and other emergency service entities in California and elsewhere continue to use this alphabet--despite the fact that many of their sworn and support personnel have prior military communications training.
Adam - Boy - Charles - David - Edward - Frank - George - Henry - Ida - John - King - Lincoln - Mary - Nora - Ocean - Paul - Queen - Robert - Sam - Tom - Union - Victor - William - Xray - Young - Zebra