Policeman/State trooper

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justfred

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Can my American friends tell a dumb Englishman What is the difference between a State Trooper and a Policeman as to me they both appear to do the same work
 

Some of the best drivers I've ever seen are state troopers. I sat at the top of a big hill one time, safely out of the way, and watched some of them go after an escaped convict; the driving was better than anything I ever saw in a movie.

justfred, state highway patrol members tend to have a better reputation for professionalism among the public at large. I'm sure some would argue, but that's been my experience. Not only where I live now, but in other states where I've lived.
 
[h=1]20 Slang Terms for Law Enforcement Personnel[/h]

1. barney: This gently derogatory term refers to Barney Fife, a bumbling small-town deputy sheriff in the classic 1960s sitcom The Andy Griffith Show.

2. bear: This term, from truckers’ slang, alludes to a style of hat worn by some law enforcement personnel—one that resembles the one worn by fire-safety icon Smokey the Bear. (See also Smokey.)
3. the boys in blue: This folksy phrase refers to the frequent use of blue as the color of a police officer’s uniform—and harks back to a time when only men could become police officers.
4. bull: a term prevalent in the first half of the twentieth century, primarily referring to railroad police but pertaining to regular police officers as well and alluding to the aggressiveness of these officials.
5. cop: A truncation of copper from British English usage, referring to someone who cops, or captures.
6. dick: A derogatory abbreviation of detective.
7. federales: Originally a Spanish term for federal police in Mexico, but jocularly used in the United States to refer to police in general.
8. the feds: A truncation of federal, referring to federal law enforcement personnel.
9. five-O: A term for police derived from the title of the television series Hawaii Five-O, about a special police unit by that name.
10. flatfoot: A reference to a police officer, with several possible origins, including the association that police who walked a beat supposedly would get the medical condition of flat feet.
11. fuzz: Originally a British English term referring to felt-covered helmets worn by London police officers, later borrowed into American English.
12. G-man: A term (derived from “government man”) from the mid-twentieth century, referring to FBI agents.
13. gendarmes: Originally a French term for rural police officers, borrowed into American English as jocular slang.
14. gumshoe: A term alluding to soft-soled shoes worn by detectives that are more comfortable than hard-soled shoes and/or enable them to follow suspects surreptitiously.
15. the heat: A reference to the pressure that law enforcement officials apply to suspects.
16. the law: A collective term for law enforcement.
17. the man: A term alluding to the imposing authority of law enforcement personnel.
18. pig: A derogatory term dating back to the 1800s that fell into disuse but was revived during the civil rights era.
19. po-po: A reduplicative term referring to police officers.
20. Smokey: A term for law enforcement personnel, derived from an association of the style of hat worn by some state troopers with the one worn by Smokey the Bear.
 
State Troopers patrol the highways and stop people for speeding. One doesn't 'call' a State Trooper. They do other things, but member named 911 can give more details - hope he stops by.

OTOH a police officer comes when someone calls 911 about a fight, burglary, neighbor disturbance, drunk & disorderly conduct, stolen purse/wallet, auto accident (they write reports for insurance and court purposes), they also write citations for speeding within city limits, various traffic violations.
 
Ken is right about Texas. My brother has worked in law enforcement all his life. From patrolman, City cop, Sheriff's Department, State Trooper, Homicide Detective and now in his later years at the courthouse helping the "Judge Judy's" keep the peace!!. In his rookie days he worked undercover drugs which broke up his marriage as his wife could not take the danger and worry of his safety. I feel better now that he is in the courthouse until he retires in 2 years. He loved being a State trooper best.
 
In my area it is common to call the State Troopers instead of the County Sheriff if you want a quick response and decisive action. The NYS Troopers also maintain a plainclothes Bureau of Criminal Investigation that handles the investigation of more serious crimes.

The State Trooper's also have an officer on duty in each of the rural school districts as a community resource officer, that is an expense that I still can't wrap my head around.
 
applecruncher said:
State Troopers patrol the highways and stop people for speeding. One doesn't 'call' a State Trooper. They do other things, but member named 911 can give more details - hope he stops by.

OTOH a police officer comes when someone calls 911 about a fight, burglary, neighbor disturbance, drunk & disorderly conduct, stolen purse/wallet, auto accident (they write reports for insurance and court purposes), they also write citations for speeding within city limits, various traffic violations.
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The New York State Troopers are the state police force and they are the lead agency in almost all crime in NY. Yes they do traffic also but that is only one division.

The State Park Police have jurisdiction in State Parks, but they are full fledged troopers with full police powers through out the state

We then have the Sheriffs Department. Every county has a Sheriff. They also perform all law Enforcement duties with in their specified county

City Towns and Villages may also have Police Departments with full Police Powers

In NY Law Enforcement are either Graduates of the New York State Troopers Academy, or for other departments graduates of the "Municipal,Local and Village Law enforcement course taught under the auspices of the NYS Academy.

In NY The label on the door or the color of the uniform does not matter. An LEO is an LEO
 
Pennsylvania is a bit different than other states. Here in PA, the police are paid for by the city, borough or township that has a police department. Those police are restricted to the boundaries of their area. The state police covers the entire state and no boundaries are excluded. We also patrol the interstates and the turnpike. The state police here in PA also aide the local police because we have more resources than any other law enforcement agency with the exception of the FBI. Some very small communities that have no police protection are covered by the state police.

Also, the state police may make arrests whether they are on or off duty. Some police departments here in PA forbid their police from doing so if they are off duty. We serve all 67 counties. Our training is more advanced than smaller police agencies. Our training and education in law enforcement never stops. And like I already wrote, we can chase a suspect or fugitive across the entire state if necessary.

We pride ourselves on the professionalism while in uniform and our conduct must be above standards at all times, whether on or off duty, or in or out of uniform. Every citizen is treated equally and without bias or prejudice We take the oath which clearly states those facts. Any Trooper violating the oath is held accountable.

It is a privilege and an honor to be selected to become a part of the Pennsylvania State Police.
 
justfred said:
Can my American friends tell a dumb Englishman What is the difference between a State Trooper and a Policeman as to me they both appear to do the same work
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Basically it is jurisdictional. The Police are city based. State Troopers cover an entire state.

Their are other levels(?) as well like county, federal (FBI), city park rangers, state park rangers, national park rangers, etc. Sometimes they overlap, sometimes not, and sometimes they work together. And just to make it more interesting there are private security forces as well that run around with badges of some sort, although I'm not sure what their badges mean in terms of authority.

As far as ticketing drivers, in the metro Atlanta area I have seen Police, Sheriffs, State Troopers, and even DOT (Department of Transportation) ticketing drivers.
 
C.O.P. Cop= Constable on patrol.

To cop a bad person = Cop.

Copper, as in the metal , when back in the day, the push through type of button was used on their "blouse" or coat...The buttons were made of Copper..Slang lead to them being called Coppers or Cops.

All three explanations are used , in the display of "Cop-talk" at a local Police museum....There is no [one] listed as profoundly accurate.
 
I live in a small town in Eastern CT. We do not have a police department. We have a resident trooper. So when we call 911 we reach the closest State Police barracks. Our Resident Troopers handles everything in our town from burglaries to lost dogs.
 
Different states assign different duties to their state police. Here in PA, we are all called Troopers. We have jurisdiction anywhere in the state. We supply police protection to the small towns (boroughs) that do not have police protection.

We also take care of traffic issues on the interstates and turnpike. The other divisions that we have are firearms and alcohol, major crimes unit and assist any police department that requests us for assistance. There are other responsibilities, such as guarding the Governor that is considered an honor, if selected. This is generally a short term assignment. And, yes, we do have a SWAT unit.

It’s a great vocation for those that wish to serve.
 
justfred said:
Can my American friends tell a dumb Englishman What is the difference between a State Trooper and a Policeman as to me they both appear to do the same work
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To add to what others have said, the word STATE you would associate with jurisdiction (generally) ending at other state boundaries. In Ohio they are known as the Ohio Highway Patrol, other states may call them State Police.

At the County level is the Sheriff's dept. They run the County jail as the main duty, but also patrol.

Township police have authority with the township limits, the same with Villiage police.

On the City level they are known as (Municipal) Policeman. Each agency has powers granted by the state constitution and Home Rule Charters. All are not afforded the same powers equally by law, however the basic function on the streets is Patrol/Crime prevention.
 
Rosemarie said:
Another ignorant English person here......where does the word 'Yankee' come from?
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That can be looked up, but Yankee means a Northern Soldier (civil war), and a Southern Soldier (Confederate), but, northern vs. southern. Mark Twain wrote a short story A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, so the word is old.
 


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