What is cop short for?

CGIV76

FRANK

evans_michael_ya

"From The New York City Police Dept.Museum...........WHERE DID THE TERM 'COPS' COME FROM?.......... When the first police force began to patrol in the summer of 1845, they only badges on their civilian clothing. The badges were 8 pointed stars with the seal of the City at the center and were made of stamped copper. The newspapers of the time referred to the new force as the 'Star Police' but people seeing the shiny copper shields began to call the new force 'Coppers' which was later shortened to 'Cops.' There is also a British police {term;} Constable On Patrol which may account for the term 'cops' in England as well."

rogueriverbob

i heard that the word came from the reference to the copper buttons on there uniforms, and then shortened to the word cop

Brand X

I always thought it was short for 'copper'...the buttons on the policemen's uniforms.

Bocephus

Cop is, quite correctly, a shortened term of Copper which is what early police badges were made of.
Contrary to popular belief (at least, according to most people who answered your question) it does not stand for Constable On Patrol - Nor were the Constables the very first or earliest police officer ever recorded.
The first actual police officers were formed in England by Sir Robert Peel. They were slang-termed "Peelers" in honor of Sir Peel's name, and were later more popularly known as "Bobbies" - also in honor of their creator's name (Robert).
Sir Peel's officer's first uniforms were distinct and apart from all other contemporary clothing at the time, however no badges were worn until some years later... further distinguishing officers from common citizens.
These badges, and buttons, were made of copper because of ithe metal's ability to shine brightly when kept clean and polished. Again, further distinguishing the police from normal folk.
Prior to Sir Peel forming the Metropolitan Police Force, self-policing was in place in the early days of settlement. The "police" at the time worked directly for the King, and their main duty was to collect taxes from the citizenry. At the time, these people were called Reeves. The larger geographical areas where the citizens lived - often encompassing several towns/villages/etc. - were called Shires (yes, just like in Lord of the Rings). Most states now call these areas Counties, but some states refer to them as Burroughs (Louisiana & Alaska, to my knowledge).
The Reeves were therefore called Shire Reeves - the earliest noted deritive of the common day term 'Sheriff.'

oldsalt6585

It comes from Great Britain: CONSTABLE ON PATROL.

ritzysmom

Constable-on-Patrol

sjsosullivan

Cop is short for Copper, which is a reference to the copper buttons and badges worn on the uniforms of Victorian Era police officers.

S-Dawgy Dawg

that's a very good question..lol

'' GUV ''

Constable On Patrol first ever officers of the peace and only township elected office left in most places.. all police today owe their status to the constable.

trueblue3167

This was asked a few weeks ago...

There's alot of debate about this, however the version I learned (which is taught in California police academies)
"Cop" is short for "Copper" and comes from the copper badges that police officers used to wear.

normobrian

I've heard that it's short for copper, the metal that NYC police badges were made of in the 1800's.

El Scott

Actually comes from back when the Police were know for their copper buttons on their uniforms. They were called "Coppers".......shortened to Cop.

Bosspooba

First answer is correct...TIP = To Insure Promptness!

Scott L it is nice you are a Cop but you are wrong!

Sharon Abbott (Y&R) Must Die

"Cop" doesn't stand for anything, unles it's C.O.P., which would mean "Citizen On Patrol." The term "cop" is actually a slang word to describe an officer of the law.

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