2007-07-31 12:34:15 · 13 answers · asked by sparky 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
basically, mode or method of operation. (modus operandi)
2007-07-31 12:37:36 · answer #1 · answered by ©2009 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
1
2016-06-10 02:41:13 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In police jargon, mo was originally an abreviation for the Latin modus operandi. Loosely translated, that means mode of operation. Today, mo has been Americanized & translated to the point most officers know it is from the Latin modus operandi but they define it as method of operation.
What that means is based on the theory (pretty strong theory) that humans are creatures of habit. We repeat actions that are successful for us. We see it a lot with athletes & attribute it to superstitions. You can also think about guys in bars trying to pick up gals. If a line works Friday, he will use the same line again Saturday.
Now, take that idea & apply it to criminals. When a guy robs a liquor store & gets away, he will repeat the method he used to successfully rob the store & get away. When a burglar breaks into a particular make of car in a particular area by smashing the passenger window & does not get caught, he will continue to use that same "plan" over & over. The "method of operation" that was successful becomes these crooks' MO.
Investigators group crimes by MO to help solve the crime.
Years ago we had an increase in home burglaries in a specific entry method. We had caught & jailed a guy several months earlier who used the same MO. We checked & learned he was still in prison so we knew it was not him. We then checked to see if a cell mate had been recently released & sure enough, one had been released just a few days before our burgs started. Investigators tracked this guy down & were able to establish he was responsible for the new burgs. Burglar #1 had taught his method to Burglar #2.
[More than you asked I suppose but tried to put into context.]
AirPeace - There must be a heck of alot of crime in donut shops judging by the number of crooks police catch, testify to convict, & the crooks end in prison in the US. But cops have learned the people who do not like them are the ones most likely to have a reason not to like them - usually an illegal reason.
2007-07-31 13:31:04 · answer #3 · answered by XPig 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
MO or "modus operandi' means Method of Operation. It refers to the way a particular person usually does something.
2007-07-31 15:00:54 · answer #4 · answered by STEVEN F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I totally agree with all the statements about "method of operation" and "modus operandi".
Just for a different view however, in the dept of Corrections where I work "Mo" is slang for "Molester" or "Cho-Mo" for "Child Molester"
Probably not what you meant but an interesting side note.
2007-07-31 15:14:24 · answer #5 · answered by shdwkat2099 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"MO" is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase modus operandi.
It is translated as mode of operation.
Modus operandi is an offenders pattern of operation or method of preparing for and committing a crime.
2007-07-31 15:08:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually it's m.o., modus operandi= method of operation.
2007-07-31 12:41:26 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
it means method of operation
2007-07-31 12:36:51 · answer #8 · answered by nvrrong 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Police mo means Police MAN!!!
hOPE THIS HELPS,
Kristen
2007-07-31 12:38:03 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 7⤋
It just goes to show that you can learn something on here.
2007-07-31 12:42:56 · answer #10 · answered by trf6x6 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋