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Why are Police Officers Called Cops?

Tricia Christensen
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Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 144,971
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Police officers are often referred to as cops, but the origins of this nickname are something of a debate. It is known that, up until the 1970s, "cop" was something of a slang term, and one would refer to law enforcement officials more properly as policemen. Some argue that the term is shortened from "copper" and derives from the tin or copper badges worn by a policeman. Others say that it is an abbreviation for "Constabulary of Police."

General consensus on the word origins of "cop," however, suggest that the term is based more on the policeman's job than on his clothing or job title. In Latin, the verb capere can be defined as "to capture." In French, the verb is caper. "To cop" in English is to seize or to take, and this defines some of what a police officer does: he or she seizes or takes crooks or stops their crime "capers."

Some also believe that the Dutch word kapen, which also loosely translates to "to steal or take," is related to policemen being called coppers or cops. Essentially, the police force was there to take criminals off the streets. Since the Latin, Dutch, and French terms are all similar, and since American English especially derives language from German, French, and Latin, the specific language origin of kapen or capere creates a ready path to the slang term.

While it is appropriate to call members of the police force cops, and it is no longer considered derogatory, certain other terms for police officers are definitely insulting and unwelcome. While British Police might not mind being called bobbies, no police members like to be referred to as pigs or the "fuzz." Some don’t mind the term the "heat" as applied to the whole police force, but the police force does not generally take kindly to terms given to them by criminals.

The term is in such common usage now, however, that a show documenting their work on the job is called Cops. Even though J. Edgar Hoover once highly objected to the term, it is now fine to refer to a policeman or a police woman as a cop. The term "police officer" is generally most correct, since it is not gender based, and is slightly less familiar.

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Tricia Christensen
By Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia Christensen is based in Northern California and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her writing. Her wide-ranging interests include reading, writing, medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion, all of which she incorporates into her informative articles. Tricia is currently working on her first novel.
Discussion Comments
By anon1003928 — On Oct 09, 2020

As stated previously, shortened from the original "Copper."

By anon1002205 — On Sep 30, 2019

When Sir Robert Peel organized the first patrol force in London, the officers wore copper badges. People called them coppers, which was shortened to Cop. Bobbies are called Bobbies after Robert, Bob Peel.

By anon993114 — On Oct 23, 2015

I learned 40 years ago it meant Constable On patrol from H R McKenzie, my old Headmaster but I prefer 5-0 because I Love Hawaii 5-0 and still hear it in some movies.

By anon967540 — On Aug 28, 2014

The term "community oriented policing" popular in the 1990's came from the word cop, not vice-versa. Departments used phrases like "community oriented policing, the cop on the beat"

By anon349812 — On Sep 29, 2013

I have a question: some people say that we can use policeman or policewoman nowadays, but I think those words are old vocabulary. Is this correct?

By anon348395 — On Sep 16, 2013

From the early days of policing, when it was citizens that patrolled the streets, Citizens On Patrol or COPs.

By anon337562 — On Jun 06, 2013

The original post is correct. Want some actual evidence? In 1704, in "Dissenting Hypocrite" by Edward Ward, the verb "cop" is used to mean seize or capture. In the 1846 session papers of the Old Bailey (London) the testimony of a police officer mentioned that criminals are calling officers "coppers". There is no evidence to support the button theory, or the badge theory. Unless someone wants to come up with any original sources?

By anon334822 — On May 15, 2013

In gaelic, a cheop (copp) is a protector, a strong defender. When illiterate Irish came over after the Potato Famine, they used gaelic words. Cop comes from Gaelic, and is a straight borrowing.

By anon316208 — On Jan 27, 2013

Called cops because their badges were made of copper.

By anon276935 — On Jun 27, 2012

There are so many myths about the etymology for this word, but most are wrong. It comes from the verb 'to cop' and started to become a noun around 1844 (first recorded use in this context)The root is the latin 'capere'. Absolutely nothing to do with brass buttons, badges, toecaps, socks full of pennies etc. Nothing to do with acronyms like 'Constable of Peace' and the like either. It's very humdrum really. [OED]{Oxford English Dictionary}

By anon238962 — On Jan 06, 2012

Sounds like a lot of guessing going on.

By anon193427 — On Jul 05, 2011

it is actually because of the copper buttons they wore in the 50's.

By anon170404 — On Apr 26, 2011

COP as in "Community Oriented Policing" that's what we have here in the philippines.

By anon154573 — On Feb 21, 2011

My grandfather said it was because of the copper toed boots they wore in the 1920's and 30's in Chicago.

By anon136569 — On Dec 23, 2010

I will speak definitively in saying that COP is an acronym of Constable on Patrol, my father is a police officer in the United States, as is my grandfather. Furthermore the English language, having been derived from England (what a concept) derives its etymology from England where patrolling LEOs (Law Enforcement Officials) are historically referred to as constables.

By anon111432 — On Sep 16, 2010

Cop actually stands for Constable on Patrol. Referring to Constables in uniform serving and protecting the community.

By anon106087 — On Aug 24, 2010

I'm going with the "copper" theory. Reason is, in Australia and various other countries, police have been known for decades as "bronze" because of their bronze badges.

The term "copper" has been around a lot longer than the shortened term "cop". Likewise, the term "copper" was used primarily in English-speaking countries only. The French and Dutch have various other euphemisms for the police, and neither "cop" nor "copper" are any of them.

By anon87721 — On Jun 01, 2010

I think it stands for commencement of proceedings.

By anon72652 — On Mar 23, 2010

cop. community officer protection

By anon56656 — On Dec 16, 2009

I was taught that it stands for Citizen On Patrol.

By anon54845 — On Dec 02, 2009

COP is an acronym for Chief of Police.

By anon39388 — On Aug 01, 2009

"cop" is a shortening of the word "coppers." In the UK, where community policing originated, police are more often referred to as "coppers" not "cops". It is almost certain the terms is in response to the use of copper items in their dress.

By anon23086 — On Dec 16, 2008

I was told by an old police officer, who was stationed in hell's kitchen, that the name originated with copper buttons.

By anon18438 — On Sep 23, 2008

This is Azalia (Uh-zale-ya),

COP can also mean Constable On Patrol.

By anon9281 — On Mar 03, 2008

also, "Community Orientated Policing" cops.. darbie

By anon7563 — On Jan 29, 2008

When I lived in Britain, I heard that COP stands for Constable of Peace.

By anon7351 — On Jan 24, 2008

The reason the term "cops" came into play is because the "Bobbies" in England had copper buttons on their uniform, therefore, "Coppers" became a slang term. That was eventually shortened to "COPS"

By anon6016 — On Dec 12, 2007

As a retired police officer we learned back in the late 60s what cop stood for. It was Constable on patrol, COP.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia...
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