If you’ve watched police dramas, listened to scanner radios, or read crime novels, you’ve probably heard an officer use the nickname “Paul” over the radio. But what does it actually mean? Why do police chatter sound so cryptic, filled with names that don’t match up to anyone in the conversation? “Paul” is just one of many names officers use as a sort of shorthand—but it carries specific history and meaning within law enforcement communications.
Whether you’re a true crime fan, an amateur radio enthusiast, or simply curious about law enforcement lingo, this guide will dig deep into the curious case of “Paul.” You’ll discover the origins of this unusual police nickname, why it’s still relevant, and how it fits into the broader world of police codes and communication.
Why Do Police Use Nicknames Like “Paul” on the Radio?
Before we zero in on “Paul,” it helps to understand why police use these kinds of nicknames at all. If you tune into a police scanner, you’ll notice officers never just say, “That’s a P as in Patrick.” Instead, they’ll say, “P as in Paul.”
This isn’t just a quirky habit. It’s a critical part of clear, effective radio communication called a phonetic alphabet.
The Challenge of Radio Communication
Police radios are lifelines for officers in the field, but they come with their own set of challenges:
- Background noise: Sirens, crowds, and traffic can turn ordinary letters into static.
- Similar-sounding letters: Saying “B” and “P” over a crackly radio can lead to confusion and dangerous mistakes.
- Urgency: Officers often need to relay info quickly and accurately.
That’s where the phonetic alphabet comes in.
What Is the Phonetic Alphabet?
A phonetic alphabet assigns easy-to-distinguish spoken words to each letter of the English alphabet. This makes communicating tricky letters a lot simpler. If you need to make sure someone hears “P,” you say “Paul,” not “P,” which could be confused with “B,” “T,” or even “C.”
Here’s how a few letters sound in the police phonetic alphabet:
- A = Adam
- B = Boy
- C = Charles
- …
- P = Paul
- …
- Z = Zebra
This makes voice transmissions clear, even across crackly radios or in tense field situations.
The Origins of “Paul” in Police Communication
Today, we most often associate phonetic alphabets with military or aviation lingo (think “Alpha Bravo Charlie”). But police departments, especially across North America, have long used their own systems.
The Old U.S. Police and LAPD Phonetic Alphabets
“Paul” comes from what’s known as the APCO (Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials) phonetic alphabet, which was widely used by American police forces from the 1940s onwards.
A snapshot (with relevant examples):
- A = Adam
- B = Boy
- C = Charles
- D = David
- …
- P = Paul
Contrast this with the NATO/ICAO system used by the military and pilots, where:
- P = Papa
But for police, “Paul” stuck. The LAPD, NYPD, and thousands of other U.S. police departments trained generations of officers to use “Paul” for the letter P.
Why Not Use the “Standard” NATO Alphabet?
The police phonetic alphabet pre-dates the NATO/ICAO version. Before international standards coalesced (“Alpha Bravo Charlie”), many industries created their own phonetic languages. Police departments favored words that felt familiar, easy to pronounce, and unlikely to be misheard.
“Paul” beat out options like “Peter” or “Papa” due to its single-syllable clarity and cultural familiarity in anglo-American contexts.
Real World Examples of “Paul” as a Police Nickname
You might hear “Paul” in several critical radio exchanges:
License Plate Calls
Suppose an officer stops a suspicious car with the plate “5PFL321.” Over the radio, they would say:
“Dispatch, run a plate. Five-Paul-Frank-Lincoln-Three-Two-One.”
Unit Numbers
Some departments assign officers or districts letter-based radio call signs. Unit “2P30” would be radioed as:
“Two-Paul-Thirty, report to Main and 8th.”
Incident Reports
When officers need to clarify a suspect’s initials or an address, they’ll spell it out:
“The suspect’s name is Patrick O’Hara. That’s O-H-A-R-A. O as in Ocean, H as in Henry, A as in Adam, R as in Robert, A as in Adam.”
You’ll still hear “Paul” when spelling out “P.”
How the Police Phonetic Alphabet Differs From Other Systems
- APCO/Police: Adam, Boy, Charles, David…Paul, Robert, Sam…
- NATO/ICAO: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta…Papa, Romeo, Sierra…
While aviation and military have standardized around NATO’s alphabet, most law enforcement groups, especially in local and state departments, still cling to the traditional APCO version for legacy and clarity.
Interestingly, dispatchers and police officers are often bi-lingual in phonetics, able to switch between alphabets if they’re working with agencies that use a different system.
Why Is “Paul” Still Used Today?
- Institutional Tradition: Police departments prize consistency and familiarity.
- Legacy Training Materials: Much of the training and department documentation still uses APCO/“Paul” notation.
- Internal Communication: Most day-to-day communication is within a department, making it easier to stick to the traditional alphabet.
That said, as interoperability between agencies increases (think major emergencies or multi-jurisdictional task forces), you might hear crossover or officers code-switching between “Paul” and “Papa.”
Does “Paul” Ever Refer to an Actual Person?
No. “Paul” is never someone’s codename or nickname referring to a person. It’s strictly the phonetic equivalent for the letter “P” in police and dispatcher-speak. That said, “Paul Unit” (like “2P30”) could refer to an officer assigned to the “P” district, which sometimes is called the “Paul” district. But even then, it’s referencing the letter, not a particular officer.
The Value of Learning Police Radio Codes
Whether you’re researching for a novel, prepping for a ride-along, or listening to a police scanner as a hobby, understanding phonetic codes like “Paul” will make sense of what can otherwise sound like a bunch of garbled names.
It’s not just about trivia. Clear radio communication can mean the difference between a safe response and a potentially dangerous mix-up. Knowing your “Pauls” from your “Papas” is essential knowledge for anyone serious about following law enforcement activities.
Where You’ll Hear “Paul” Most Often
- Police scanner enthusiasts
- Authors of crime and detective fiction striving for realism
- Dispatchers in training
- Police television and radio dramas
Often, the difference between passable and authentic detail in storytelling hinges on little things like knowing a license plate wouldn’t be “5-Papa…” on the LAPD, but “5-Paul…”
Taking It Further: Other Police Phonetic Alphabet Names
For the naturally curious, here’s a quick reference for some classic APCO phonetic names:
|
Letter |
Police Phonetic |
NATO/ICAO |
|---|---|---|
|
A |
Adam |
Alpha |
|
B |
Boy |
Bravo |
|
C |
Charles |
Charlie |
|
D |
David |
Delta |
|
… |
… |
… |
|
P |
Paul |
Papa |
|
R |
Robert |
Romeo |
|
S |
Sam |
Sierra |
|
T |
Tom |
Tango |
|
Z |
Zebra |
Zulu |
If you want the full APCO alphabet, organizations like the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) have resources you can read for extra nerd points.
How to Get Started in Police Radio Chatter
Interested in hearing “Paul” and the rest of the phonetic alphabet used live? Here are some tips to tune into police frequencies and get up to speed:
- Find a local police scanner app for your phone or computer.
- Learn common 10 codes (like “10-4” for “OK”) since they’re often mixed with the phonetic alphabet.
- Bookmark police communication glossaries to make sense of additional jargon.
- Practice spelling your own name and address using the police phonetic alphabet to sound like a pro.
Unlocking the Hidden Language of Law Enforcement
The next time you hear “Paul” on a police scanner, you’ll know it’s not a mysterious undercover cop or a secret code word. Rather, it’s a small but vital tool for ensuring clear, unambiguous communication among people who can’t afford to get their letters mixed up.
Understanding details like “Paul” not only makes you a more informed listener but also brings you a step closer to the intricate world of policing and public safety. Stay curious, keep decoding, and who knows? You might even put your knowledge to professional use.