Metropolitan Transportation Authority (NY)

MTA Police

Phonetic Alphabet

While there is limited value in providing a phonetic alphabet on this page it can serve as a guide for patrol unit call signs.

Adam
Boy
Charlie
David
Eddie
Frank
George
Henry
Ida
John
King
Lincoln
Mary
Nora
Ocean
Paul
Queen
Robert
Sam
Tom
Union
Victor
William
X-Ray
Young
Zebra

Communications Unit

The Police Communications Unit dispatches all MTA Police units system-wide. Dispatch identifies on MTA talkgroups as "Central."

Investigative Services Bureau

Special Investigation Division

Special Conditions Unit

The Special Conditions Unit is responsible for, in short, warrant operations, and some crime reduction strategy development. They perform both uniformed and plainclothes enforcement operations.

Call Sign	Unit	Alternative/Subsidiary Call Signs
Conditions-Sergeant	Sergeant	Conditions-Sergeant-1
Special Conditions-Detective-2	Detective
Special Conditions-7	Officer
SC-8	Officer	Special Conditions-8

Metro-North

Metro-North units are commanded by North CO, and North Duty. Metro-North officers will at times use their shield number to identify themselves if they have not been assigned a zone yet (i.e. "Shield 3036"). Additionally, Metro-North patrol units may at times use shift suffixes to differeniate them from other units on-duty (i.e. "6-Henry-A Tour," or "7-Adam-Day Tour").

Call Sign	Unit
North CO	Deputy Inspector?
North Duty	Duty Captain

Zone 3 (Jamaica)

Call Sign	Unit
3-TO-2 through 3-TO-4	Transit Operations Officers
3-TO-16	Transit Operations Officer
3-Fair Evasion-2	Fair Evasion Officer

Zone 6 (Mount Vernon)

In regard to Zone 6 patrol units, "6-Boy" and "6-Charlie" do not appear to exist and their call signs appear to be skipped. Zone 6 patrol and post units are supervised by "6-Sergeant" (in addition to, at times, "6-Sergeant-2," and "6-Sergeant-3"), and "7-Lieutenant." There are also dedicated Train Patrol officers (officers riding on trains), and detectives. Zone 6 is commanded by "6-CO," who is assisted by "6-XO." Zone 6 falls under the command of the North commanding officer ("North CO"), and, below them, the North Duty Captain ("North Duty"). On rare occasions (usually when an officer accidentally hits their emergency button), officers will identify with their radio mounted patrol number (patrol car fleet number). These call signs are not routinely used, but they're listed as well.

Call Sign	Unit	Alternative/Subsidiary Call Signs
6-CO	Captain
6-XO	Executive Officer (Lieutenant?)
6-Lieutenant	Lieutenant
6-Sergeant	Sergeant	6-Sergeant-01
6-Sergeant-2 & 6-Sergeant-3	Additional Sergeants On-Duty
6-DD-Sergeant	Detective Sergeant
6-DD-1 through 6-DD-4	Detectives
6-Adam	Patrol Unit
6-David through 6-Henry	Patrol Units
6-Directed Patrol-3	Direct Patrol Officer
6-Foot Post-#	Foot Post Officer
6-SP	Special Post Unit	6-Special Post-1 and 6-Special Post-2 (6-SP-#, 6-SP-0#)
6-Train Patrol-Sergeant	Train Patrol Sergeant	6-TP-Sergeant, 6-Train Patrol-Sergeant-1, 6-TP-Sergeant-1, 6-TP-1-Sergeant
6-Train Patrol	Train Patrol Unit	6-Train Patrol-1 through 6-Train Patrol-3, 6-Train Patrol-5 through 6-Train Patrol-10 (6-TP-##), 6-Train Patrol-12
RMP 763	Marked Patrol Car

Zone 7 (Beacon)

Zone 7 patrol and post units are supervised by "7-Sergeant," "7-Lieutenant," and, sometimes, "7-Sergeant-2." Additionally, there are detectives, Train Patrol units (officers on trains), and Transit Operations units. The commanding officer for the Zone is "7-CO." None of these call signs are valid on Dutchess County channels, and they identify with "Metro ##," but none of these call signs have been heard on air. Zone 7 falls under the command of the North commanding officer ("North CO"), and, below them, the North Duty Captain ("North Duty"). On rare occasions (usually when an officer accidentally hits their emergency button), officers will identify with their radio mounted patrol number (patrol car fleet number). These call signs are not routinely used, but they're listed as well.

Call Sign	Unit	Alternative/Subsidiary Call Signs
7-CO	Captain
7-Lieutenant	Lieutenant
7-Sergeant	Sergeant	7-Sergeant-1, 7-Sergeant-01
7-Sergeant-2	Second Sergeant On-Duty	7-Sergeant-02
7-DD-1	Detective
7-Adam through 7-Henry	Patrol Units	7-Adam-1 & 7-Adam-2 (7-Adam 0#), 7-David-1 & 7-David-2
7-Foot Post	Foot Post Unit	7-Foot Post-1, 7-Foot Post-01
7-Foot Post-2	Second Foot Post Unit?	7-Foot-Post-02
7-Special Post-3	Special Post Officer	7-SP-3, 7-SP-03
7-Train Patrol-Sergeant	Train Patrol Sergeant
7-Train Patrol-1 through 7-Train Patrol-4	Train Patrol Officer	7-TP-#, 7-TP-0#
7-Transit Op-Sergeant	Transit Operations Sergeant
7-Transit Op-2	Transit Operations Officer
7-Transit Op-5	Transit Operations Officer
RMP 697	Marked Patrol Car
RMP 850	Marked Patrol Car

Zone 10 (Grand Central Madison)

Call Sign	Unit
10-Transit Op-5	Officer

Zone 11 (Harlem-125th Street Station)

Zone 11 is a smaller zone, and as such units are only numbered Zone 11 patrol units and post units are supervised by "11-Sergeant," "11-Lieutenant," and, at times, "11-Sergeant-2." Multiple officers appear to be assigned to the 11-Adam section, and identify with an additional number when calling dispatch as an individual. Additionally Train Patrol units are frequently heard (officers on trains), as well as Transit Operations officers (who are supervised by the Transit Operations sergeant). Zone 11 is commanded by "11-CO." Zone 11 falls under the command of the Metro-North commanding officer ("North CO"), and, below them, the North Duty Captain ("North Duty").

Call Sign	Unit	Alternative/Subsidiary Call Signs
11-CO	Commanding Officer
11-Lieutenant	Lieutenant
11-Sergeant	Sergeant
11-Sergeant-2	Second Sergeant On-Duty
11-Adam through 11-Charlie	Patrol Units	11-Adam-1 through 11-Adam-4 (also called 11-Adam-0#)
11-SP	Special Post Unit
11-SP-2	Second Special Post Unit?
11-Train Patrol-1 & 11-Train Patrol-2	Train Patrol Units	11-TP-#, 11-Train Patrol-0#
11-Transit Op-Sergeant-1	Transit Operations Sergeant	11-Transit-Sergeant-1
11-TO-Sergeant-4	Transit Operations Sergeant
11-Transit Op-01	Transit Operations Officer
11-Transit Op-3	Transit Operations Officer	11-TO-3
11-Transit Op-6 through 11-Transit Op-8	Transit Operations Officers	11-TO-#
11-TO-28 through 11-TO-30	Transit Operations Officers

Metro-North Operations Control Center

The Operations Control Center is not under the control of MTA Police, but they do have officers assigned there. In short, the OCC is Metro-North's full time control center/situation room. The following units have been heard on air:

Call Sign	Unit
OCC-Lieutenant	Lieutenant
OCC-Sergeant	Sergeant

Right of Way Task Force(?)

The following units (which have not been confirmed as part of the same task force, or even related) are believed to be part of the Right of Way Task Force, a unit consisting of Metro-North Security, Safety, MTA Police, and Maintenance of Way Structures to "actively seek out security and safety related issues affecting Metro-North along the right-of-way." This primarily includes identifying common trespassing locations through inspections, and identifying fencing in need of repairs. "RTF" units have frequently been heard on "69-PTs" ("69" meaning non-crimes, the "PT" suffix is not known).

Call Sign	Unit	Alternative Call Signs
RTF-1	Team?
RTF-2	Team?
Task Force-1	Team?
Task Force-5	Officer?	Task Force-05

Special Operations Division

Canine Unit

Canine units are primarily tasked with explosive detection, among other duties. Units do not appear to be assigned to a zone, and appear to be floaters. Units are identified with "K9," followed by two numbers which appear to be personal ID numbers (not related to car number, zone number, beat number, etc.). The following table lists all recorded units:

Call Sign	Unit
K9-Sergeant-6	Sergeant
K9-7-Sergeant	Sergeant
K9-38	Canine Unit
K9-45	Canine Unit
K9-54	Canine Unit
K9-62 & K9-63	Canine Unit
K9-65	Canine Unit
K9-72	Canine Unit
K9-74	Canine Unit
K9-80 through K9-83	Canine Unit
K9-91	Canine Unit

Emergency Services Unit

Much like the New York City Police Department's Emergency Services Unit, MTA Police ESU is a "everything patrol can't do" unit. Their duties range from rescue duties, to tactical operations, although they can usually be heard clearing obstructions from railroad tracks. ESU trucks don't seem to be assigned to a zone, and appear to be floaters. ESU trucks identify with their truck number. "ESU-1" through "ESU-5" are light tactical trucks staffed by two officers. "ESU-9" through "ESU-13" (and likely "ESU-14" as well) are also light tactical trucks. "ESU-6" through "ESU-8" have not been heard on air, and no pictures of them seem to exist. These units sometimes identify as "Truck ##." ESU trucks are supervised by "ESU-Lieutenant." The following table lists all recorded units for additional clarity:

Call Sign	Unit	Alternative Call Signs
ESU-Lieutenant	Lieutenant
ESU-1 through ESU-5	Light Tactical Truck	Truck-1 through Truck-5
ESU-9 through ESU-14	Light Tactical Truck	Truck-9 through Truck-14

Highway Unit ("Highway Patrol")

The Highway Unit's duties are, at best, vague. First, one must draw the distinction between the Highway Unit and the MTA's Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority: The two are distinct, and are not related in any way. It seems this Highway Unit just have general highway patrol and traffic enforcement duties, as well as traffic accident investigation (why these duties fall on MTA Police is unclear). Units are identified with "Highway," followed by two numbers which appear to be personal ID numbers (not related to car number, zone number, beat number, etc.). "Highway-21" and "Highway-24" are heard relatively frequently on the Zone 6/7/11 dispatch talkgroup. The supervisor for those two appears to be "Highway-Sergeant-1" who has also been heard on that talkgroup, albeit far less frequently. Above "Highway-Sergeant-1" is "Highway-Lieutenant." The following table lists all recorded units:

Call Sign	Unit
Highway-Lieutenant	Lieutenant
Highway-Sergeant-1	Sergeant
Highway-19	Officer
Highway-21	Officer
Highway-24	Officer