In Defense of the Word “Cop”

In Defense of the Word “Cop”. What comes to mind when you see the word “Cop”? For some, it sparks debate. For others, it’s a casual shorthand. But for many of us who wore the badge, Cop is a title of pride, one earned, not given.

I use the word often on social media, and I use it with respect. I’m a retired Cop from Baltimore, Maryland, and in my world, “Cop” was always a compliment. It was never meant as an insult, nor was it ever treated like one by those who actually lived the work. Yet, over time, some have insisted the word carries a negative or derogatory tone. That misunderstanding is exactly why this discussion matters.

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A Word That Covers an Entire Profession

In the United States, policing isn’t a single job description. We have Police Officers, Deputy Sheriffs, State Troopers, State Officers, Game Wardens, Wildlife Officers, Park Rangers, Corrections Officers, Probation Officers, Federal Agents, and more. Each agency carries its own structure, Officer, Agent, Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, and so on.

Technically, the accurate way to address someone would be “Police Sergeant,” “State Police Lieutenant,” or “Highway Patrol Trooper.” Identifying a Highway Patrol Sergeant simply as a “Police Officer” isn’t accurate and, frankly, doesn’t reflect the rank they earned. In Defense of the Word “Cop”. 

That’s where the word Cop becomes useful. It’s universal. It covers all of these roles and ranks without diminishing any of them. It acknowledges the brotherhood and sisterhood of everyone who steps into the job, regardless of patch, agency, or title.

What the Word Cop Really Means

For many of us, being called a Cop meant something deeper: it meant you actually did the job. It meant you were the one who showed up, not just in uniform, but in spirit.

Because the truth is, not everyone wearing a badge fits the definition. Across agencies, there are Officers, Deputy Sheriffs, and Troopers who are essentially mobile report takers. They avoid hot calls. They’re the last to arrive at dangerous scenes, by choice. They rarely get blood on their uniforms, whether their own, a victim’s, or another officer’s. And they almost never have complaints filed against them, because doing the bare minimum keeps their IA file clean.

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Ironically, those are often the ones who climb the promotional ladder quickest.

In the Baltimore Police Department, we called them “Humps.” They stretched routine calls far longer than necessary, spent half their shift looking for reasons to stay inside the station house, and allowed other officers to handle the dangerous work on their posts. That meant fellow officers were tied up covering ground they shouldn’t have had to, and the community on their assigned post suffered for it. In Defense of the Word “Cop”. 

By contrast, a Cop, or as the old-timers said, “Real Police”, was the officer who showed up, stepped in, and took responsibility. They backed their partners, protected their posts, and acted with both courage and purpose. That is the spirit the word represents.

The Outrage Over a Word

Every now and then, someone on social media erupts into a faux outrage when I use the word Cop. Their complaint isn’t about the topic being discussed, not even when the story is tragic or violent. No, their focus is the word itself.

But here’s my stance, and I don’t waver on it:

When I call someone a Cop, it’s a compliment.
If someone chooses to take offense, that’s on them, not on me.

And when a post says a COP WAS SHOT, anyone who fixates on my vocabulary instead of the fact that a criminal shot an officer has their priorities wildly out of line. Their motives, frankly, become very questionable.

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Proud of the Title

I’m a Retired Baltimore Police Sergeant. I don’t often refer to myself as a Cop, out of respect for the term, others can call me that, but I would be embarrassed to call myself that. I’m honored to have served. Honored to be part of a profession that demands courage, sacrifice, and resilience. Honored to stand among the men and women who truly earned the word. In Defense of the Word “Cop”. 

So yes, I’ll keep using the word Cop.
Because to me, and to many others who lived the life, it’s not just a name.
It’s a standard.
It’s a legacy.
It’s a badge of honor.