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Why are police officers called 'cops'? Where did the term come from?

Submitted by atrickpay on Thu, 04/09/2009 - 21:24
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I was just thinking about this. Anyone know?

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Thx for everyone's answers

Submitted by atrickpay on Thu, 04/09/2009 - 23:21.

I read them all. The comments which say that it originated from the copper badges that they wore sound the most plausible to me.

Well, the way I look at it,

Submitted by Gear for Liberty on Thu, 04/09/2009 - 23:16.

Well, the way I look at it, and this is just my personal viewpoint, when you 'cop' something, you take without asking or by force. An example would be, "cop a feel," ya know, grope someone sexually, usually without consent. So it makes sense, people are getting 'copped' all the time, a perfect example is I saw the cops towing someone's car away the other day, and I turned to my friend and told him, "you know, the police are stealing that person's car right in broad daylight and no one can do a damn thing about it."

I got a speeding ticket once that the police didn't even report to my insurance company, makes me wonder where that money went...

They 'copped a feel' of my wallet.

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NYC police dept.

Submitted by NJforRP on Thu, 04/09/2009 - 22:41.

in the 1840's, when the dept was founded, all officers got a copper badge.

NY Gangs coined the term "Coppers", and now it's Cop.

this is also what i was told

Submitted by kurtisohio on Thu, 04/09/2009 - 23:29.

I asked my Uncle who was a Lieutenant at the time.....and that was the reply he gave me as well..

Thx

Submitted by atrickpay on Thu, 04/09/2009 - 23:18.

That's a great answer.

Cruel Overbearing Punishers?

Submitted by cultivator on Thu, 04/09/2009 - 22:31.

or maybe some of the below posts?
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Lol.

Submitted by atrickpay on Thu, 04/09/2009 - 23:19.

.


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I've heard that COP means

Submitted by realedreform on Thu, 04/09/2009 - 22:28.

Citizen On Patrol - I believe the word was first coined in New York City, but I'm not sure about that.

Ron Paul is my President

It is short for the "copper"

Submitted by e_goldstein on Thu, 04/09/2009 - 21:38.

that their badges or buttons were made from.

http://www.brama.com/travel/messages/43409.html

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Submitted by Jefferson on Thu, 04/09/2009 - 22:41.

Comes from the copper buttons they used to wear.

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Constable

Submitted by Calgary4Paul on Thu, 04/09/2009 - 22:29.

Constable on patrol