Police personnel...a question?

[It's A Happy Day]

Just curious?

Do you hate the term "cop"? Where did this term come from anyway, as its not a shortening of the word? What terms do you consider an insult vs. just another name for an officer?

Growing up we were led to believe that calling a police officer a "cop" was disrespectful. I know there are alot worse things to be called but wondered about it from your side of the fence.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

I don't think most people who use that word consider it disrespectful. My Grandpa was a police officer and I was raised that the term was disrespectful. I guess things have changed, but I still won't say it out of respect for my Grandfather.

 

[poohandwendy]

This is what I found when searching the origins of the word 'cop':

Around the year 1700, the slang verb cop entered English usage, meaning "to get ahold of, catch, capture." By 1844, cop showed up in print, and soon thereafter the -er suffix was added, and a policeman became a copper, one who cops or catches and arrests criminals. Copper first appeared in print in 1846, the use of cop as a short form copper occured in 1859.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

I don't think most people who use that word consider it disrespectful. My Grandpa was a police officer and I was raised that the term was disrespectful. I guess things have changed, but I still won't say it out of respect for my Grandfather.

I'm glad someone else was taught this too! You know how sometimes you think it might just be a "weird family thing"?

 

[I'mNoPrince]

I thought it was used to disrespect the police by calling them nothing more then Citizens On Patrol . I have no Idea of where it came from but I just know it. It has to be better them Pig on a Hog in the grand scheme of things

 

[NMAmy]

My ex is a police officer and he and all his fellow officers referred to themselves as cops.

Now my favorite was when one friend made Lieutenant. Everyone was making a big deal over him and then his wife told me, "Eh, no big deal. This just means I now call him Lieutenant Pig." And she did call him that whenever she thought he was getting too big for his britches. Nothing like your wife to bring you back down to earth.

 

[MassJester]

I'm not sure how true this is, but I was told by a former NYC Chief (not the chief, but a 2 star borough commander) that the term originated in NYC before the Civil War as policemen there wore uniforms with large copper badges.

 

[highland3]

Cop is far from offensive. Most of the guys and ladies I work with have no issues with the term and we often use it ourselves... along with coppers. ::cop:

 

[Hercules10]

I'm not sure how true this is, but I was told by a former NYC Chief (not the chief, but a 2 star borough commander) that the term originated in NYC before the Civil War as policemen there wore uniforms with large copper badges.

That's kinda what I've heard too. However it wasn't large copper badges but very large copper buttons they would use to hold their coats closed with that distinguished them.

Either way it looks like the metal copper had something to do with it and I don't think LEOs find it as offensive as 'pig'.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I have always heard of it a "Constable On Patrol"

 

[Poohnatic]

I have always heard of it a "Constable On Patrol"

I grew up that you didn't say it either, then as an adult, a friend's goal was to get into the NYPD. His influence changed 'COP' from a derogatory thing. Although, I'd always been told it was Constable on Patrol, a la british constables.

Suzanne

 

[m&m's mom]

I was always taught it was disrespectful as well.
My 10 yoDD used it yesterday and since my HUGE pet-peeve is not calling things by their proper term, I told her to use "police officer". Better to err on the side of respectfullness.

 

[NeverEnufWDW]

Our local Fox-affiliate morning show always uses "Cops"...disrespectful, IMHO. Police Officers would be more appropriate.

 

[Daxx]

Not a police officer nor is anyone in the family. However, I have always felt that the term "cops" was derrogatory. We use the term Police Officer in our house.

 

[Becky2005]

I was racking my brain trying to think if it was ever considered offensive in my family & nope, can't think of it.

My uncle & cousin and now his son too were all police officers with the Sheriff's office. It never would have been a problem to say it around them & I would visit with my cousin a lot.

We pretty much said cop without meaning any disrespect. Of course, I do tend to say "Policeman" now which isn't proper either.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

My father was a police officer as were many relatives and friends of ours. We were never allowed to say Cops its was considered disrespectful. It always struck me funny cause that's exactly what my dad and his friends called each other!

 

[DizznyChick]

not sure if this has been said but i thought it meant civilians on patrol

 

[DVCJones]

My DH is a police officer. He doesn't get offended if he hears someone use the word "cop". However, he does prefer to hear "police officer"

I tell him it is a good day if he doesn't hear someone call him a "pig"

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Dh is a police sergeant. You should hear some of the phrases we use in our house. DH doesn't care about the word "COP". I tend not to use it, but that's because I am usually calling him the Po-po or 5-0. In a more professional setting such as work, I tend to use officer or whatever title the person holds.

 

[NMAmy]

Dh is a police sergeant. You should hear some of the phrases we use in our house. DH doesn't care about the word "COP". I tend not to use it, but that's because I am usually calling him the Po-po or 5-0. In a more professional setting such as work, I tend to use officer or whatever title the person holds.

DD has started talking about the po-po, too. A friend of mine retired from the force and is teaching driver's ed now. He was her teacher and kept telling her to "Watch out or you'll have the Po-Po after you!" She told me she calls her dad that now (he's a cop).