The LAPD phonetic alphabet is not a phonetic alphabet in the sense in which that term is used in phonetics, i.e., it is not a system for transcribing speech sounds. See the phonetic alphabet disambiguation page, and also International Phonetic Alphabet and SAMPA.

At some point in the early history of emergency service mobile radio systems, the Los Angeles Police Department instituted its own phonetic alphabet for relaying precise word spellings. Despite the development in 1941 of the Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet and its replacement, circa 1955, by the NATO phonetic alphabet, the LAPD and other emergency service entities in California and elsewhere continue to use this alphabet--despite the fact that many of their sworn and support personnel have prior military communications training.

Adam - Boy - Charles - David - Edward - Frank - George - Henry - Ida - John - King - Lincoln - Mary - Nora - Ocean - Paul - Queen - Robert - Sam - Tom - Union - Victor - William - Xray - Young - Zebra