[Jrob24]

I've heard some police say that they aren't civilians. I though only military personal were non-civilians. What's your take on this?

[clem]

"I've heard some police say that they aren't civilians."

I take it to mean, "them (civilians non-cops) and us (cops)".

[LawDog]

The official statement is that once society hang the title "officer" on a Peace Officer, that person is no longer considered a civilian.

Firemen are also amongst those who get removed from 'civilian' status.

I have been told that dictionaries started listing cops as non-civilians in either the 1950's or 1960's, so that's probably a good indicator of when the trend started.

*shrug*

LawDog

[gun-fucious]

the military defines all non millitary as civilians

civilian
adj : associated with or performed by civilians as contrasted with
the military; "civilian clothing" "civilian life" [ant:
military]
n : a nonmilitary citizen [ant: serviceman]



Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

[Sarge]

Cops are civilians with badges. Otheriwse, the city of Bugtussle has a standing army- prohibited by the Constitution, if I recall correctly.

In recent years Joe Flatfoot has gotten all enthusiastic in donning paramilitary uniforms, wearing facemasks and toting SMG's around, which has only exacerbated the notion that we are something other than regular citizens.

My old patrol tactics instructor hit the nail on the head when he asked us in class one day- "Think you're something special because you're gonna be cops? Lemme tell you something- ANYBODY can do this job. Otherwise, you people would still be stocking shelves down at the grocery store. The world didn't slow down when you pinned on that badge, and the world won't stop turning when you take it off for the last time. Get that straight right now and you'll have a hell of a lot less trouble on this job."


Words to live by.