# Is the term 'cop' considered "insulting" or negative to police officers? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 20, 2011, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-cop-considered-insulting-or-negative-to-police-officers/593438 "2011-08-20T16:48:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-cop-considered-insulting-or-negative-to-police-officers/593438/41 "2011-08-23T15:01:03Z")
I went with a cop for 10 years and we hung out with plenty of his cop buddies. Never once did I hear any of them say “cop” was derogatory. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-cop-considered-insulting-or-negative-to-police-officers/593438/42 "2011-08-23T15:14:09Z")
I once asked an officer something along the lines of, “What’s the difference between a State Trooper, Highway Patrol, and local Police officer,” and he answered starting with, “Well, a cop’s a cop regardless, but…” So I say not derogatory. Joe ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-cop-considered-insulting-or-negative-to-police-officers/593438/43 "2011-08-23T15:18:16Z")
Years ago, my son was astonished when I didn’t know what po-po meant. To this day, especially if he is driving, I’ll say, “Po-Po!” to alert him to the presence of law enforcement. ---
**Author:** ![Soliloquy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@Soliloquy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soliloquy)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-cop-considered-insulting-or-negative-to-police-officers/593438/44 "2011-08-23T15:39:16Z")
When people ask what I do for a living, I often use the term “cop”. Doesn’t bother me at all. If I want to be more specific, I use the term “Deputy Sheriff”. My title is “deputy”, so I prefer that over “officer”, since I am technically not a police officer, but, as someone upthread mentioned, a cop is a cop is a cop. (Well, unless they’re highway patrol. Then they’re DMV with guns… Mandatory departmental rivalry, all in good fun.) When I graduated from the academy, my stepfather gave me a small ceramic statue of pigs climbing all over one another. My department and another local LE agency team up and play the local fire department every year in a football game that we call “Hogs vs. Dogs”. My friends make pig jokes quite a bit. Goes with the territory. I’m not the type to spend a lot of my off duty time with my partners from work, so maybe that opens me up to more ribbing. Maybe that’s why I take it better than some. It’s all good natured and well intentioned, so I see no reason to get butt-hurt by a little bacon joke here and there. ---
**Author:** ![storyguide3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@storyguide3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyguide3)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-cop-considered-insulting-or-negative-to-police-officers/593438/45 "2011-08-23T16:04:55Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I’ve noticed that RCMP officers here in Canada tend to refer to each other as “members”, i.e. members of the RCMP. I have noted much the same with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary. I myself tend to use Constable (or other rank if visible) when I have had reason to interact with the RNC, though I have had to suppress saying “Constable Hotness” on a couple of occasions (there are some \*very \*attractive female RNC members these days).🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-cop-considered-insulting-or-negative-to-police-officers/593438/46 "2011-08-23T16:08:15Z")
> [@pedescribe](#): > > What about LEO? Is that pejorative or not? LEO is OK, but GEMINI is better. Whatever you do, don’t call one a CANCER. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-cop-considered-insulting-or-negative-to-police-officers/593438/47 "2011-08-23T16:20:14Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > LEO is OK, but GEMINI is better. Whatever you do, don’t call one a CANCER. I’m a cancer. Just don’t call me “moon child.” Where did that come from anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-cop-considered-insulting-or-negative-to-police-officers/593438/48 "2011-08-23T21:22:40Z")
> [@Soliloquy](#): > > If I want to be more specific, I use the term “Deputy Sheriff”. My title is “deputy”, so I prefer that over “officer”, since I am technically not a police officer, but, as someone upthread mentioned, a cop is a cop is a cop. (Well, unless they’re highway patrol. Then they’re DMV with guns… Mandatory departmental rivalry, all in good fun.) I have to deal with city PD, sheriff’s office, and DPS, so I have “officers”, “deputies”, and “troopers”. “Trooper” sounds awfully ominous to me, probably because you don’t hear it in everyday conversation unless you’re talking about Stormtroopers. I find they’re happiest when you use actual rank to refer to them, but that means keeping up with “detective sergeant”, “CID lieutenant”, “reserve patrolman”, “K-9 corporal”, and who knows what all. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-cop-considered-insulting-or-negative-to-police-officers/593438/49 "2011-08-23T23:12:39Z")
> [@enomaj](#): > > I saw an episode of Law and Order where Dennis Farina’s character said cop was disrepectful and made a detainee say officer. I saw that episode. Dennis Farina’s character was such a snot about the word, that I was hoping that the detainee would say, "Then how come that show on Fox isn’t called “Officers”? ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-cop-considered-insulting-or-negative-to-police-officers/593438/50 "2012-02-23T08:46:31Z")
> [@Soliloquy](#): > > When people ask what I do for a living, I often use the term “cop”. Doesn’t bother me at all. Same here. Of course, I’m a janitor, but, the chicks dig it better if they think I have a real job! ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-cop-considered-insulting-or-negative-to-police-officers/593438/51 "2012-02-23T10:02:33Z")
I’ve known various police officers socially in Australia, and the only time one took offense at what I called him was when I addressed him as “Superintendent”. He was in fact a superintendent in the NSW Police Force, having recently been promoted from the rank of inspector, so I thought it would have been a compliment to him. However, he told me, in a tone that he probably used to the most junior of probationary constables, that I shouldn’t address him by rank at a social occasion. That said, I’ve never known an officer offended by the word “cop” or “copper”. Prison officers, n the other hand, do not like being called “screws”. ---
**Author:** ![lawbuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@lawbuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawbuff)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-cop-considered-insulting-or-negative-to-police-officers/593438/52 "2012-02-23T15:22:53Z")
> [@brittekland](#): > > I once got pulled over for speeding by an undercover detective flashing only his front white lights. I didin’t stop initially until he caught up to me and waved me down but even then I thought of not stopping because they are supposed to have, I think, blue and red light? In my state, Ohio, non marked police cars have the authority to stop and ticket a car, however, under the Rules of Evidence, they are incompetent to be a witness against you. ---
**Author:** ![lawbuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@lawbuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawbuff)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-cop-considered-insulting-or-negative-to-police-officers/593438/53 "2012-02-23T15:26:17Z")
“Cop” is socially acceptable, 1st AM or not. “Bobbies”, Police in England, came to be named after Robert Peale. I learned that in Introduction to Criminal Justice when I took it years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-cop-considered-insulting-or-negative-to-police-officers/593438/54 "2012-02-23T15:37:50Z")
> [@lawbuff](#): > > “Bobbies”, Police in England, came to be named after Robert Peale. I learned that in Introduction to Criminal Justice when I took it years ago. I recall reading that “copper” came from the buttons that those first bobbies wore on their uniform too. ---
**Author:** ![Jasper\_Kent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9a28c/32.png) [@Jasper\_Kent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasper_Kent)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-cop-considered-insulting-or-negative-to-police-officers/593438/55 "2012-02-23T15:42:32Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I’m a cancer. Just don’t call me “moon child.” Where did that come from anyway? The moon is our “planet.” ---
**Author:** ![lawbuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@lawbuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawbuff)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-cop-considered-insulting-or-negative-to-police-officers/593438/56 "2012-02-23T16:00:59Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I recall reading that “copper” came from the buttons that those first bobbies wore on their uniform too. “Flatfoot” is another term for police, since they walk so much “on the beat”. The same as “Gumshoe” for a private detective, they walk so much, they pick up gum on thier soles, despite the search engine origin of that phrase that would come up. ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-cop-considered-insulting-or-negative-to-police-officers/593438/57 "2012-02-23T16:21:42Z")
Cops are called that because the verb “to cop” means “to take/arrest/seize”; i.e. “cop a feel” or “I’ll cop to that.” Then it became a noun “copper” for the person who takes someone into custody / arrests someone, etc. and then was shortened back again to just “cop”. I have a co-worker who was a former cop and called himself that. Of course he thought it was C.O.P. “citizen on patrol” and I didn’t have the heart to correct him. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-cop-considered-insulting-or-negative-to-police-officers/593438/58 "2012-02-23T18:26:22Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > One of his programs was the yearly “Pigs vs. Freaks” softball game in Volker Park. Rather predictable, the cops routinely won. I hesitate to ask who the “freaks” were. 😕😃 ---
**Author:** ![mutantmoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@mutantmoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mutantmoose)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-cop-considered-insulting-or-negative-to-police-officers/593438/59 "2012-02-23T21:52:44Z")
If someone introduces themself to me as a police officer then I get the feeling they’re about to arrest me. Cop or policeman seems like they’re just telling me their job. But the reason why they may see cop as pejorative (I think) is because arresting people is just one aspect of their job. They have a much wider role - assisting the public or helping out in accidents and emergencies. Calling them cop is reducing their job to its most disliked part. ---
**Author:** ![lawbuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@lawbuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawbuff)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-cop-considered-insulting-or-negative-to-police-officers/593438/60 "2012-02-23T22:51:12Z")
> [@mutantmoose](#): > > They have a much wider role - assisting the public or helping out in accidents and emergencies. As they were described in Cady v. Dambrowski, “Community Caretakers”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-cop-considered-insulting-or-negative-to-police-officers/593438.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-cop-considered-insulting-or-negative-to-police-officers/593438.md?page=4)