2006-08-26 17:46:42 · 15 answers · asked by Jay 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
the fact that when making arrests they would try to "cop" cheap feels from the pple they were arresting
2006-08-26 17:49:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Back in New York City, the police wore badges made of copper. People started referring to them as "coppers" and that got shortened to "cops".
Hope this helps!
2006-08-26 17:49:50 · answer #2 · answered by rita_alabama 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
COP or Cops:
Meaning: Police Officers, Law enforcement Officers, men in uniform.
COP is a shortened form of 'COPPER', which was used to describe Police Officers on account of their COPPER BADGES!
'COP' is also said to be an abbreviation for
C (onstable)
O (n)
P (atrol).
Gimme my tenner!
Source: Urban Dictionary
2006-08-26 17:58:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Police officers were know as 'Bobbies'/'Peelers' after Robert Peel who set up the first police force in Britain. Their initial pay was a penny a day, this lead to them being called coppers, because the penny itself was know as a 'copper' coin, if you ask some-one for some copper, it meant did they have any small change, such as pennies, farthings, and ha'pennies (said as 'haypennies' - half penny coins).
2006-08-27 00:39:10 · answer #4 · answered by swanlen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard the explanation about the copper badges, but I've also heard that the term comes from the latin "capre" which means "to catch" (so I've been told - could be true, I'd have no way of knowing).
2006-08-26 17:56:13 · answer #5 · answered by firemedicgm 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the first two answers i think got it right because the slang cop came from that copper.
2006-08-26 18:08:59 · answer #6 · answered by Erase Program Read Only Memory 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi..
I guess everyone says it's because of their copper badge, but,
if taken in FRENCH language we have: Corps policier... which translated is Corps of policemen... the institution... C.O.P. = cop
but to each our own I suppose...lol...
Hope this helps....
2006-08-26 18:00:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Copper from the badge being made of copper.
2006-08-26 17:47:49 · answer #8 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They wore copper badges.
2006-08-26 17:48:40 · answer #9 · answered by maestroeb 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
C.O.P. = Chief of Police = cops(s)
2006-08-26 17:48:45 · answer #10 · answered by Steph 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋