Pig, a derrogitory term used for a police officer, is really short for Pride, Integrety, and Guts. But how did officers come to be called 'cops'?
2007-05-19 23:45:21 · 15 answers · asked by Mama_Kat 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
There are alot of different answers, I think the correct one is that no one really knows. The history I learned (in the academy mind you) was that the term "cop" was short for "copper" as police officer's badges used to be made from copper.
The term "pig" was coined for LAPD Officers during the civil rights movements of the 60's by members of the Black Panthers. PIG as an acronym for Pride, Integrity, and Guts has been used by many an academy class, although I don't know where it originated.
2007-05-20 00:03:09 · answer #1 · answered by trueblue3167 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is derived from the term "Copper". Copper was a slang term used to identify policeman in the 1920's during prohibition. It has been shortened over time to just "Cop". The original term Copper came, as stated in a couple previous answers, from the copper badges that policemen wore back in the 1920's.
Another slang from the word "COP". Ever hear someone say that they "copped" something. Copped a feel, copped a buzz, copped a pack of cigarettes, etc.?
This refers back to the same time period of the 1920's when police walked a beat in a neighborhood. The Coppers would take liberties with the vendors on the street by taking some of whatever they were selling. Hence, he "copped" it.
2007-05-20 00:42:54 · answer #2 · answered by Topper 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Cops is short for Coppers. Coppers has been a slang term for police since the before the 1940s. There are films from that period which used the term. Where it comes from I can not remember at the moment. It may have derived from the uniform badge.
2007-05-19 23:51:36 · answer #3 · answered by Easy Peasy 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Originally a British term to describe the Police as "Constable Of Police" or "Constabulary Of Police" or more commonly a Constable(Officer)On Patrol! Henceforth the slangy term of COP came into public usage...to describe an Officer on Patrol or Constable on Patrol! Hope this helps to answer your Question. Thx.
2007-05-20 00:01:16 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are called cops because they use to wear copper badges so they called them cops for short.
2007-05-20 04:02:31 · answer #5 · answered by A question or two... 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
C.O.P. COP Coporal On Patrol
2007-05-20 09:16:15 · answer #6 · answered by high1013 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's from an old English term "coppers", circa early 1800s, derived from policemen's copper buttons.
2007-05-19 23:48:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
The correct answer is the old copper badges they use to wear.
2007-05-20 00:15:10 · answer #8 · answered by the_mr911 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In NY back in the day there were a lot of policeman of Irish descent and they had red hair. The name copper top was coined after that particular reoccurring feature...later shortened to copper (as in: "you'll never take me alive copper!") then again shortened to cop (as in: "hey bail the cops are comming!")
2007-05-19 23:47:04 · answer #9 · answered by Montego 4 · 1⤊ 4⤋
No PIG is what they are. And dont tell me otherwise. They abuse people and cheat. Get free sex and food and money Thats what cop stands for. Got it. I know.
2007-05-20 03:24:22 · answer #10 · answered by ? 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋