Police and NATO phonetic alphabets have long been used to prevent spelled words or letters from being misunderstood over radio transmissions. While the chart indicates that the second listing is a police alphabet, more and more police, emergency response units, and federal agencies use the NATO alphabet. Be aware that there are slight variations across jurisdictions, and other variations around the world. If you're interested, see the mother of all alphabets here.
Letter |
NATO |
Police |
A |
Alpha |
Adam |
B |
Bravo |
Boy |
C |
Charlie |
Charlie |
D |
Delta |
David |
E |
Echo |
Edward |
F |
Foxtrot |
Frank |
G |
Golf |
George |
H |
Hotel |
Henry |
I |
India |
Ida |
J |
Juliet |
John |
K |
Kilo |
King |
L |
Lima |
Lincoln |
M |
Mike |
Mary |
N |
November |
Nora |
O |
Oscar |
Ocean |
P |
Papa |
Paul |
Q |
Quebec |
Queen |
R |
Romeo |
Robert |
S |
Sierra |
Sam |
T |
Tango |
Tom |
U |
Uniform |
Union |
V |
Victor |
Victor |
W |
Whiskey |
William |
X |
X-ray |
X-ray |
Y |
Yankee |
Young |
Z |
Zulu |
Zebra |
