# Police Jargon and why don't they use everyday expressions for describing their work **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 19, 2013, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-jargon-and-why-dont-they-use-everyday-expressions-for-describing-their-work/653358 "2013-03-19T15:28:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-jargon-and-why-dont-they-use-everyday-expressions-for-describing-their-work/653358/21 "2013-03-19T19:28:57Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > And that it’s “occupied three times”. What’s wrong with “three occupants”? At least in the last 15 years that I have been doing this we have been taught to get away from this stuff. Our speech may be a bit stilted with precise wording but we are supposed to write and talk like humans. It works better in court. In years past reports were written in the third person. “This officer” or “The above named officer arrived..” I was taught from the beginning to write in the first person. The was how I was taught all the way back in the academy run by the state. My department might be a little ahead on such things. We rarely use number codes or jargon on the radio and speak in clear English. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-jargon-and-why-dont-they-use-everyday-expressions-for-describing-their-work/653358/22 "2013-03-19T19:35:43Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I don’t really consider it jargon per se. For the most part its regular English words in a bit more formal way. All the flowery language and creative writing is drained out. The only jargon (specific terminology defined by the activity) is usually confined to a few specific terms which are defined legally and are used for precision. I could hold an entire conversation with someone using Army jargon and acronyms and you wouldn’t understand a damn thing. Not so with coptalk. After all it comes from writing reports that may be seen by a jury. When testifying you want to be able to communicate to the jury, not translate for them. > > As stated above it comes from a need for precision, succinctness and accuracy in communication. Its also because as you do it you come up with a formula for reports. We are not novelists that have to come up with a unique way of telling a story each time. In my head I have a formula such as: > > On xxx I was dispatched to xxx on a report of xxx. Prior to my arrival headquarters informed me that xxx. Upon arrival I met xxx who stated xxx… Yes, but you could still use a set formula, and in fact use fewer, shorter words, if instead of “I proceeded to approach the vehicle” you wrote “I walked to the car”, and so on. Mind you, a police report written like that just wouldn’t look right, because that’s not how we’re used to seeing them written. Which I suspect is why they’re not written that way! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-jargon-and-why-dont-they-use-everyday-expressions-for-describing-their-work/653358/23 "2013-03-19T19:43:54Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > BTW police writing has ruined me as a creative writer. I used to be fairly good and once thought about attempting to write a book. At this time I’d have to rewire my brain. “At approximately 9:27 pm, there was a greater than usual amount of precipitation.”? ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-jargon-and-why-dont-they-use-everyday-expressions-for-describing-their-work/653358/24 "2013-03-19T19:45:20Z")
My dad was a cop for over 30 years, so I saw this firsthand. One of the things I noticed was he and his co-workers used a lot of unnecessary "did"s. Example: Instead of “I approached” it was “At that time I _did approach_” Or: Rather than “He stated”, you’d get “He\* did state”\* ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-jargon-and-why-dont-they-use-everyday-expressions-for-describing-their-work/653358/25 "2013-03-19T19:46:52Z")
I also hate how the police refer to the citizenry as “civilians’ as the police are civilians also (unless they are in the Army reserve or something, of course). ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-jargon-and-why-dont-they-use-everyday-expressions-for-describing-their-work/653358/26 "2013-03-19T20:19:17Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > Yes, but you could still use a set formula, and in fact use fewer, shorter words, if instead of “I proceeded to approach the vehicle” you wrote “I walked to the car”, and so on. > > Mind you, a police report written like that just wouldn’t look right, because that’s not how we’re used to seeing them written. Which I suspect is why they’re not written that way! To me approaching connotes a purpose. If I was walking to a car with intent such as during a car stop I would write “I approached”. If I was walking somewhere and happened to observe something I would write “I walked”. > [@DrDeth](#): > > I also hate how the police refer to the citizenry as “civilians’ as the police are civilians also (unless they are in the Army reserve or something, of course). You are entitled to your opinion. The dictionary does not agree with you. [QUOTE=Merriam-Webster] . a : one not on active duty in the armed services or not on a police or firefighting force [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-jargon-and-why-dont-they-use-everyday-expressions-for-describing-their-work/653358/27 "2013-03-19T20:28:34Z")
You could call it cop speak instead of jargon, but it’s a way of speaking that is specific to police and in some cases to journalists who cover the police beat and want to sound official. Another formulation a lot of police use is putting race before gender instead of the other way around: “suspect is a male white,” for example. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-jargon-and-why-dont-they-use-everyday-expressions-for-describing-their-work/653358/28 "2013-03-19T20:39:11Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Another formulation a lot of police use is putting race before gender instead of the other way around: “suspect is a male white,” for example. The only time I have heard that was about 15 seconds ago when I read your post. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-jargon-and-why-dont-they-use-everyday-expressions-for-describing-their-work/653358/29 "2013-03-19T20:41:56Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > The only time I have heard that was about 15 seconds ago when I read your post. I think there’s usually a comma in there. It’s not ‘make white’ it’s ‘male \ white’ because that’s the way you’d fill out the form, check the ‘sex’ box, then the ‘race’ box. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-jargon-and-why-dont-they-use-everyday-expressions-for-describing-their-work/653358/30 "2013-03-19T20:43:35Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > You are entitled to your opinion. The dictionary does not agree with you. Yes, _usage_ has recently added that definition in the USA. Why? Because the police _use it._ :rolleyes: [http://www.icrc.org/customary-ihl/eng/docs/v1\_cha\_chapter1\_rule5](http://www.icrc.org/customary-ihl/eng/docs/v1_cha_chapter1_rule5) “_Rule 5. Definition of Civilians Rule 5. Civilians are persons who are not members of the armed forces. The civilian population comprises all persons who are civilians. …The definition of civilians as persons who are not members of the armed forces is set forth in Article 50 of Additional Protocol I, to which no reservations have been made.[1] It is also contained in numerous military manuals.[2] It is reflected in reported practice.[3] This practice includes that of States not, or not at the time, party to Additional Protocol I.[4]_” ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-jargon-and-why-dont-they-use-everyday-expressions-for-describing-their-work/653358/31 "2013-03-19T20:44:29Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I think there’s usually a comma in there. It’s not ‘make white’ it’s ‘male \ white’ because that’s the way you’d fill out the form, check the ‘sex’ box, then the ‘race’ box. I have only ever said, heard or wrote it in adjective noun form. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-jargon-and-why-dont-they-use-everyday-expressions-for-describing-their-work/653358/32 "2013-03-19T20:48:24Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I don’t really consider it jargon per se. For the most part its regular English words in a bit more formal way. All the flowery language and creative writing is drained out. The only jargon (specific terminology defined by the activity) is usually confined to a few specific terms which are defined legally and are used for precision… Specific term time. Theft is unlawful taking of property with intent to deprive the owner of the property permanently. The teenage neighbor who takes your car for a joy ride and then returns it before you find out has not committed a theft. Burglary does not necessarily require stealing. Burglary is generally an illegal entry to a premises with intent to commit another crime. Exact definition may vary slightly by jurisdiction. Robbery involves use of force, threat of use of force, or instilling fear in a person in an attempt to steal. If you come home to find your home has been broken into and ransacked but you never see the perpetrator then you have not been robbed, you have been burglarized. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-jargon-and-why-dont-they-use-everyday-expressions-for-describing-their-work/653358/33 "2013-03-19T20:50:55Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > BTW police writing has ruined me as a creative writer. I used to be fairly good and once thought about attempting to write a book. At this time I’d have to rewire my brain. Ages ago in journalism class, I recall a reporter on the police beat who characterized the police blotter writing style as a “curious mixture of illiteracy and overelaboration.”\* We were warned against inadvertently allowing their terminology to seep into articles we’d write based on police reports. - Or something like that. Long time ago. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-jargon-and-why-dont-they-use-everyday-expressions-for-describing-their-work/653358/34 "2013-03-19T20:55:08Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yes, _usage_ has recently added that definition in the USA. Why? Because the police _use it._ :rolleyes: > [http://www.icrc.org/customary-ihl/eng/docs/v1\_cha\_chapter1\_rule5](http://www.icrc.org/customary-ihl/eng/docs/v1_cha_chapter1_rule5) > “_Rule 5. Definition of Civilians > Rule 5. Civilians are persons who are not members of the armed forces. The civilian population comprises all persons who are civilians. > …The definition of civilians as persons who are not members of the armed forces is set forth in Article 50 of Additional Protocol I, to which no reservations have been made.[1] It is also contained in numerous military manuals.[2] It is reflected in reported practice.[3] This practice includes that of States not, or not at the time, party to Additional Protocol I.[4]_” Uh huh. Sorry the ICRC does not define English. They are stating what the word means with regards to certain specific international treaties. Not what the word means in the English language. You give one non-liguistic cite. I can keep showing you multiple dictionary definitions if you want. I don’t know exactly when it began to pertain to police but it certainly didn’t happen recently and not because a small group of people were using it. That is the definition. If you wish to keep pissing in the ocean thats your prerogative. But they are using the world correctly by its definition. And by the way the origin of the word had nothing to do with the military. It was originally a practitioner of civil law. Hmm I wonder what is closer to the original definition? Kindly reserve the roll eyes for when you are actually correct. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-jargon-and-why-dont-they-use-everyday-expressions-for-describing-their-work/653358/35 "2013-03-19T20:57:32Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > Specific term time. > > Theft is unlawful taking of property with intent to deprive the owner of the property permanently. The teenage neighbor who takes your car for a joy ride and then returns it before you find out has not committed a theft. > > Burglary does not necessarily require stealing. Burglary is generally an illegal entry to a premises with intent to commit another crime. Exact definition may vary slightly by jurisdiction. > > Robbery involves use of force, threat of use of force, or instilling fear in a person in an attempt to steal. If you come home to find your home has been broken into and ransacked but you never see the perpetrator then you have not been robbed, you have been burglarized. Exactly right. Though I prefer the word burgled. Just because. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-jargon-and-why-dont-they-use-everyday-expressions-for-describing-their-work/653358/36 "2013-03-19T21:01:45Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > The only time I have heard that was about 15 seconds ago when I read your post. It’s not too hard to find examples online. [Here’s a police blotter from Skokie.](http://www.skokie.org/publicsafetybulletin.cfm) “Male black” occurs several times. Also there’s a report about a guy getting bitten by a prostitute, so … there’s that. [Here’s a more local example (PDF).](http://www.townofbrighton.org/archives/53/March%2014,%202013%20Police%20Blotter.pdf) Maybe this is common in some places and not others. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-jargon-and-why-dont-they-use-everyday-expressions-for-describing-their-work/653358/37 "2013-03-19T21:03:34Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Ages ago in journalism class, I recall a reporter on the police beat who characterized the police blotter writing style as a “curious mixture of illiteracy and overelaboration.”\* We were warned against inadvertently allowing their terminology to seep into articles we’d write based on police reports. > > - Or something like that. Long time ago. Its not just, or even mostly, the terminology. Pronouns don’t work well in a report. If you have 4 people in a report it may be unclear (or the defense could pretend that it was unclear to make you look bad) if you ever use, “He said.” So I could have five sentences in a row which start with “Mr Smith stated.”\* I’m sure you can see how this might not make for exciting reading. \*Not a rule but I always use “stated” when I’m paraphrasing and “said” when I am going to use a direct quote. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-jargon-and-why-dont-they-use-everyday-expressions-for-describing-their-work/653358/38 "2013-03-19T21:11:18Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Ages ago in journalism class, I recall a reporter on the police beat who characterized the police blotter writing style as a “curious mixture of illiteracy and overelaboration.”\* We were warned against inadvertently allowing their terminology to seep into articles we’d write based on police reports. If more people had taken that advice we wouldn’t hear “the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed” on the news so often. > [@Loach](#): > > Not a rule but I always use “stated” when I’m paraphrasing and “said” when I am going to use a direct quote. I don’t know if everyone does it that way, but that makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-jargon-and-why-dont-they-use-everyday-expressions-for-describing-their-work/653358/39 "2013-03-19T21:14:02Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > It’s not too hard to find examples online. [Here’s a police blotter from Skokie.](http://www.skokie.org/publicsafetybulletin.cfm) “Male black” occurs several times. Also there’s a report about a guy getting bitten by a prostitute, so … there’s that. [Here’s a more local example (PDF).](http://www.townofbrighton.org/archives/53/March%2014,%202013%20Police%20Blotter.pdf) Maybe this is common in some places and not others. Well I didn’t point and yell, “Liar!” I figured you had seen it before. I just never have. And seeing it in context it looks pretty bad. Especially the way the first example is written. It sounds racist. He’s not a male, he’s a black who happens to be male. Black as the noun male as the adjective. Maybe its a regional thing but we don’t talk that way. Black male, white female etc. And the male/female thing has a reason. Sometimes the sex might be apparent but the age isn’t. A suspect may be described as male but the age is not known. Do you say man when it could be a 13 year old child? When do you make that age cut off from boy to man? And of course the word boy has a bad history so you certainly wouldn’t put that in a police report as a descriptor. Its just easier and many times more accurate to say male/female. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-jargon-and-why-dont-they-use-everyday-expressions-for-describing-their-work/653358/40 "2013-03-19T21:15:26Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I’ve almost started this thread half a dozen times. But now I’m having a hard time coming up with examples. > > It’s true that in the copiverse, there are no such things as cars. There are only vehicles. Joseph Wambaugh, _The Choirboys_: “Don’t hassle me about using long words, Roscoe. It was the academy that taught me long words like hemorrhage and defecation.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-jargon-and-why-dont-they-use-everyday-expressions-for-describing-their-work/653358.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-jargon-and-why-dont-they-use-everyday-expressions-for-describing-their-work/653358.md?page=3)