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View Full Version : learn something everyday...why do we call them "cops?"



Okla-homey
6/25/2006, 01:27 PM
The leading theory is police in the eastern seaboard cities began wearing badges made from copper metal in about 1840. Eventually, big city folks began to refer to those officers as "coppers" because of the badges they wore.

Eventually, "copper" was shortened to "cop"

There you go.

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/3617/copperbadge1cb.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Copper Philadelphia Municipal Police badge c.1840.

jk the sooner fan
6/25/2006, 01:53 PM
C.onstable O.n P.atrol.......

Jimminy Crimson
6/25/2006, 02:07 PM
inferiority COmPlex


...i kid, i kid! ;)

Gandalf_The_Grey
6/25/2006, 02:08 PM
Cranky Old Pig!

usmc-sooner
6/25/2006, 02:14 PM
PoPo

5-0

walkoffsooner
6/25/2006, 02:16 PM
good info

Big Red Ron
6/25/2006, 02:17 PM
"Coppers" goes back to England pre-USA, for the same reason you pointed too.

Jimminy Crimson
6/25/2006, 02:32 PM
"Coppers" goes back to England pre-USA, for the same reason you pointed too.

I think the English version of the story refers to the copper buttons on their uniforms...

Big Red Ron
6/25/2006, 02:51 PM
I think the English version of the story refers to the copper buttons on their uniforms...probably true, I can usually only remember half of trivial factoids. :D

Frozen Sooner
6/25/2006, 06:56 PM
Actually, it comes from the latin cappere, to seize or detain.

Oh, hi.

Okla-homey
6/25/2006, 06:58 PM
Actually, it comes from the latin cappere, to seize or detain.

Oh, hi.

Froze, you're back! We thought a bull moose in rut had broke you down like a shotgun and drove you to Skagway.

BudSooner
6/25/2006, 07:21 PM
You weren't watching Police Academy today were you Homey? :D