Why in the United States is a police officer called a 'cop?'

lothruin

The term is actually English. It is related to the term "cop" as in to snatch, grab or catch. A copper was one who copped. "Copper" with reference to police was originally used in a derogatory sense, usually by criminals as a form of abuse, and its use was even made illegal in England. The first documented use of "copper" for police was in 1846, and the shortened form of "cop" showed up in 1859. As late as the 1950's in the US, it was still considered a derogatory slang term, but in fairly recent years, it has lost that meaning. Sep 21 03, 12:31 AM

mancandy

[Cf. COP v.3 and COPPER4.] A policeman. cops and robbers (orig. U.S.): a children's game in which ‘police’ hunt ‘robbers’; also (? nonce-use) cops and thieves and transf. 1859 MATSELL Rogue's Lex. 124 (Farmer) Oh! where will be..all the cops and beaks so knowin' A hundred stretches hence? 1867 F. H. LUDLOW Brace of Boys 262 What's a cop?.. That's what the boys call a policeman. 1884 Breadwinners 212 ‘Who's afraid of half-a-dozen cops’, said a burly ruffian. 1903 Independent (U.S.) 15 Jan. 146/1 When I was a youngster one of my favorite games was what we children called ‘Cops and Thieves’. 1938 ‘E. QUEEN’ Four of Hearts (1939) xi. 119 They're going down to the Horseshoe Club to play cops and robbers with Alessandro. 1954 KOESTLER Invis. Writing xx. 225 The sensation of participating in an exciting cops-and-robbers game. 1957 MANVELL & HUNTLEY Film Music ii. 35 The villains are rounded up and hustled into a nearby police station, accompanied by a light musical parody in the ‘cops and robbers’ style of the silent film. 1959 J. O'DONOVAN Visited xxxi. 201 He..was momentarily ashamed of himself, as if he had been caught playing cops and robbers. Sep 21 03, 1:05 PM