# Why don't police prefer the term "cop"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 20, 2003, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-police-prefer-the-term-cop/214216 "2003-11-20T00:28:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-police-prefer-the-term-cop/214216/1 "2003-11-20T00:28:55Z")
What is it that the police do not prefer the term “cop”? Is it a terrible term? What is it’s original meaning, and what does it mean to a police officer today? - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-police-prefer-the-term-cop/214216/2 "2003-11-20T00:31:58Z")
[This](http://www.wordwithyou.com/columns/2_29_00.gif) also anwers your other thread. These days, most police officers even refer to themselves as cops. It’s never had a truly bad connotation, AFAIK. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-police-prefer-the-term-cop/214216/3 "2003-11-20T00:34:07Z")
I had always heard that it was short for copper, and that this term was derived from the copper badges that were warn. However, this may be folk etymology. Wait, I’ll look it up. ---
**Author:** ![SpACatta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@SpACatta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpACatta)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-police-prefer-the-term-cop/214216/4 "2003-11-20T00:36:30Z")
It is an abbreviation for “constable on patrol”. As I’ve been reading for about 10 minutes on police message boards, they really don’t seem to mind being called “cop”. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-police-prefer-the-term-cop/214216/5 "2003-11-20T00:36:50Z")
Cop = grab. They _don’t_ like “pig”. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![SpACatta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@SpACatta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpACatta)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-police-prefer-the-term-cop/214216/6 "2003-11-20T00:39:12Z")
One officer on the police boards said: “After 20 yrs on the streets of Philly,there are two names that I would answer to … Cop:::Constable on Patrol Pig :: Pride,Integraty and Guts (sp ) If you are calling me a NAME,I know where you are at.” [http://www.paratrooper.net/aotw/commo/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC\_ID=5397&whichpage=1](http://www.paratrooper.net/aotw/commo/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=5397&whichpage=1) ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-police-prefer-the-term-cop/214216/7 "2003-11-20T00:39:40Z")
Ah, the [Word Detective](http://www.word-detective.com/102603.html#copaplea) tells a different story about copper: > [@](#): > > “Cop” as a slang term meaning “to catch, snatch or grab” originally was used among thieves, and a “copper” was a street thief. But sometime in the early 19th century, irony kicked in the door, and criminals apprehended by the police were said to have themselves been “copped” – caught – by the “coppers” or “cops.” ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-police-prefer-the-term-cop/214216/8 "2003-11-20T00:41:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SpACatta \* > **It is an abbreviation for “constable on patrol”.** [I don’t think so:](http://www.word-detective.com/091400.html#cop) > [@](#): > > Still other theories explain “cop” as an acronym, standing for “Constable On Patrol,” “Chief of Police” or other such phrases. But these “acronym” theories bear all the hallmarks of being spurious after-the-fact stories invented to explain “cop.” Among other sticky details is the fact that acronyms were virtually unknown in English before the 20th century, while “cop” itself was well-established by the mid-19th century. ---
**Author:** ![SpACatta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@SpACatta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpACatta)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-police-prefer-the-term-cop/214216/9 "2003-11-20T00:43:33Z")
“You are right, it is an honor to be called a cop, when you understand the long and proud history of the term. Your explanation of its origin is one of several considered equally valid by historians.” ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-police-prefer-the-term-cop/214216/10 "2003-11-20T00:53:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Khadaji \* > \*\*Ah, the [Word Detective](http://www.word-detective.com/102603.html#copaplea) tells a different story about copper: \*\* That’s what I _said_. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-police-prefer-the-term-cop/214216/11 "2003-11-20T00:56:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SpACatta \* > \*\*“You are right, it is an honor to be called a cop, when you understand the long and proud history of the term. Your explanation of its origin is one of several considered equally valid by historians.” \*\* Yes, but perhaps you can find a more reputable cite than an unattributed quote from an unknown source. On its own your quote is entirely unconvincing and meaningless. ---
**Author:** ![SpACatta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@SpACatta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpACatta)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-police-prefer-the-term-cop/214216/12 "2003-11-20T01:01:44Z")
Or you could stop being such an irritating pseudo-intellectual. It’s from the message-board link I presented above. You could read other posts before you complain about that one. Feel free to click the link and see all the other policemen who share his opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-police-prefer-the-term-cop/214216/13 "2003-11-20T01:05:40Z")
Here’s a question? Whenceforth does the term “Five-Oh” come from? I know there was a series called ‘Hawaii Five-Oh’ starring Jack Lord, but the name of the series _had_ to have grown out of some legend. . . Tripler I can spot “bears”, “smokies”, and “Five-Oh” on the interstate. I just don’t know where the terms come from. ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-police-prefer-the-term-cop/214216/14 "2003-11-20T01:07:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SpACatta \* > \*\*Or you could stop being such an irritating pseudo-intellectual. It’s from the message-board link I presented above. You could read other posts before you complain about that one. Feel free to click the link and see all the other policemen who share his opinion. \*\* Actually, I’m with **Q.E.D.** on this one - when you make a post that contains nothing but a quote with no explanation whatsoever, _several posts after_ the one in which you post a link, my first instinct isn’t to attribute it to your earlier post. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-police-prefer-the-term-cop/214216/15 "2003-11-20T01:07:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SpACatta \* > \*\*Or you could stop being such an irritating pseudo-intellectual. It’s from the message-board link I presented above. You could read other posts before you complain about that one. Feel free to click the link and see all the other policemen who share his opinion. \*\* We’re interested in the truth here and The Word Detective is a more reputable source that what some random police officer thinks in this case. It’s very clear that the acronym came along later. This is very, very common in etymology. “Posh” is another example of a word where the acronym came later and has been discussed here many times. Haj ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-police-prefer-the-term-cop/214216/16 "2003-11-20T01:08:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tripler \* > \*\*Here’s a question? Whenceforth does the term “Five-Oh” come from? > > I know there was a series called ‘Hawaii Five-Oh’ starring Jack Lord, but the name of the series _had_ to have grown out of some legend. . . > > Tripler > I can spot “bears”, “smokies”, and “Five-Oh” on the interstate. I just don’t know where the terms come from. \*\* Hawaii is the fiftieth state. Haj ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-police-prefer-the-term-cop/214216/17 "2003-11-20T01:09:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SpACatta \* > \*\*Or you could stop being such an irritating pseudo-intellectual. It’s from the message-board link I presented above. You could read other posts before you complain about that one. Feel free to click the link and see all the other policemen who share his opinion. \*\* We prefer fact to opinion around here. We also frown on name calling. Feel free to disagree with me, but save the invective for the BBQ Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-police-prefer-the-term-cop/214216/18 "2003-11-20T01:10:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hajario \* > \*\*Hawaii is the fiftieth state. > > Haj \*\* Aw shit, there’s gotta be more than that. . . I call 'em out as “Five-0” in the CONUS[sub]Continental US[/sub] and everyone knows what I mean. . . Tripler To their face? No. That’s “Sir” or “Ma’am”. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-police-prefer-the-term-cop/214216/19 "2003-11-20T01:14:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tripler \* > **Aw shit, there’s gotta be more than that. . .** It appears not: > [@](#): > > \*\*Why was it called Five-O, anyway? \*\* > Hawaii was the fiftieth state in the union. (The original title was “The Man,” but producer Leonard Freeman changed his mind.) From [here.](http://www.mjq.net/fiveo/fiveofaq.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-police-prefer-the-term-cop/214216/20 "2003-11-20T02:33:08Z")
In Jack Webb’s intro to the original “Dragnet” series, he usually ended it with something like “That’s when I go to work. I’m a cop.” Supposedly, at some point he was told that “cop” was a derogatory term, and when he resurrected the series in the 1960s, he changed it to “That’s when I go to work. I carry a badge.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-police-prefer-the-term-cop/214216.md?page=2)