Have you ever had trouble getting out on the radio when you needed assistance? It’s infuriating. Radio air time is precious, but we don’t always treat it that way. Let’s examine the worst offenders among us and how we can reduce unnecessary and potentially dangerous airwave narcissism.
Three common radio habits that cause problems
Most of us have worked with at least one of these officers and, if we’re honest, we’ve probably been one of them at some point.
1. The inquisitor
You know the one. The cop who asks a half-dozen non-safety-related questions on the way to the call that could easily be answered by the reporting party upon arrival.
Officer Yappy on the way to vehicle collision: Dispatch, can you give me the vehicle descriptions again?
Dispatcher: They were described as two cars crashed in the intersection.
Yappy: Can you give me more details on that call?
Dispatcher: It’s the house with the loud music.
Yappy: Give me that suspect description again?
Dispatcher: The suspect is wearing all black running from the liquor store with several bottles of … liquor.
Thankfully, dispatchers keep those thoughts to themselves. They default to professionalism, pulling attention from other responsibilities to provide information that will often become obvious once the officer arrives on scene.
2. Play-by-play
If there are six cops on a call with one suspect, we don’t need to know there is “one at gunpoint.” If there are one or two officers on scene, absolutely, get some help coming! If you need a supervisor, less lethal or medical, that’s one thing, but if the call is well in hand, why distract yourself and others with an unnecessary transmission.
3. The post-call narrator
Upon leaving a call, do we really need to broadcast all the details? We can read your report later. There may be a fellow officer trying to call out on traffic or even needing assistance right then. Write the report with the keyboard, not the mic.
If it’s not safety related, find out what you need to know when you get there and leave the air for real cop stuff.
Emotional autonomy
When we flood the radio with every trivial detail of a call, we train ourselves to seek constant permission and validation. Over time, that habit erodes at our self-reliance. The dispatcher becomes a psychological crutch instead of a lifeline reserved for real emergencies. The best cops handle the routine on their own, think ahead, and only key the mic when it truly matters. Radio discipline isn’t just about airtime; it’s about preserving the autonomy that keeps us safe and effective.
Consequences
If you have an immediate safety threat in front of you, the dispatcher can’t save you. Backup is, at very best, seconds away. Understand when it’s time to act versus when you have time to push that button and talk.
Conflicting statements
Any decent defense attorney will subpoena the radio traffic and dispatch notes. I’ve been the one pulling those recordings and CAD printouts for discovery. More than once, what an officer casually broadcasts while clearing a call didn’t perfectly match the final report due to the heat of the moment and without the benefit of time and information absorption. The microphone catches you in the moment; the report captures the well-considered truth. Your brain and mouth have attorney-client privilege, as well. Use it.
Love the sinner, hate the sin
Like me, you might feel compelled to grab these offenders by the shoulders and shake them until their brain rattles around in their cranium like a BB in a boxcar. Since that behavior is frowned upon by HR, labor law and fun haters everywhere, let’s switch to a more positive approach.
What might be causing this? Matt Landfair of Primary and Secondary and I talk about it here with a very special guest appearance. How can we as supervisors or even peers help the afflicted party? We can talk to them and give them options. It’s possible they don’t even know the effect their excessive squawking has on their co-workers. Watch the interview for more.
Rehearse your transmissions
Think about what you’ll say before you click. Have a pre-planned list of information you need to receive and broadcast before you go on a call, while you’re on the call, and as you’re leaving the call.
Cut the cord, engage the brain
Radio discipline isn’t easy; if it were, I wouldn’t be writing this. Learning when to key the mic and when to stay quiet is one of the trickier skills we develop on the street. If you’re reading this and recognizing a little too much of yourself (or a partner) in these words, that’s a good thing. Awareness is the first step.
So, here’s the gentle nudge: ease your thumb off that button and let your brain take the wheel again. Trust your training and experience and handle the routine stuff on your own. The air will stay clearer. Your decisions will stay sharper, and you’ll start to experience a quiet confidence that comes from emotional autonomy. The radio will still be there when you really need it.
Author’s note: A special thanks to Matt Landfair and Primary and Secondary. Contact Matt here:
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