Policy Text
F-500-1
Kern County Sheriff’s Office – Communications Section
Policies and Procedures
TITLE:
CODE 33
NO: F-500
APPROVED:
Commander John Carpenter
EFFECTIVE:
November 30, 1993
REVIEWED:
August 21, 2025
REVISED:
August 21, 2025
UPDATED:
August 21, 2025
POLICY
At times it is necessary for the Communications Center to limit radio traffic and radio
availability to emergency traffic only to allow immediate access to field units involved in an
operation or incident. Code 33 will be used for this purpose. Use of the radio during Code 33,
which is not for emergency traffic, will be prohibited.
Code 33 may be initiated by field personnel involved in an event, a field sergeant or commander.
Code 33 may also be initiated by a dispatcher when information indicates an immediate threat to
an officer’s safety exists.
DEFINITION:
CODE 33:
Emergency radio traffic only, including but not limited to: Crimes involving
weapons, in progress crimes with violence or the p