Why Cops Are Not Civilians

[5shot]

Boy it sure seems to be a sore spot with several people here when ever non-military or non-leo's are referred to as a "civilians".

Most of the common English language dictionaries seem to be able to get it right:

"Civilian
a person who is not on active duty with a military, naval, police, or fire fighting organization."

Some more reasons:
1. LEO's are sworn members of a government quasi-military organization.

2. They take an oath to uphold the Constitution.

3. They are given legal authority by their agency and state or federal law which exceeds any legal authority possessed by other citizens.


More reasons?

[Sniper3142]

WRONG!!!

Poilce are civilians, despite them thinking they are somehow different.

ALL people who are covered under the Constitution of the United States are civilians. People on active duty in the Military are not covered under the Constitution while they are serving. They are covered under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

It is that simple.

[jtmkinsd]

WRONG!!!

Poilce are civilians, despite them thinking they are somehow different.

ALL people who are covered under the Constitution of the United States are civilians. People on active duty in the Military are not covered under the Constitution while they are serving. They are covered under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

It is that simple.

Tell it to Webster...lol

Definition of CIVILIAN
1: a specialist in Roman or modern civil law
2a : one not on active duty in the armed services or not on a police or firefighting force

SCOTUS routinely uses the dictionary as the definitive authority for what words mean...so.......

[chickenfried]

My American Heritage Dictionary from 1989 has this definition:
One not serving in the armed forces.

American heritage dictionary from 2004
A person following the pursuits of civil or nonmilitary life.

The new Webster dictionary of the English language from 1969
One skilled in the Roman or civil law; one whose pursuits are those of civil life not military or clerical.

Random House Webster's college dictionary from 1995
defintion you posted

[5shot]

YourDictionary.com

(sə vil′yən)

noun
1. any person not an active member of the armed forces or of an official force having police power

Answers.com

Civilian

n.

1. A person following the pursuits of civil life, especially one who is not an active member of the military, the police, or a belligerent group.

TheFreeDictionary.com

Civilian

1. A person following the pursuits of civil life, especially one who is not an active member of the military, the police, or a belligerent group.

Merrium-Webster Dictionary


noun \sə-ˈvil-yən also -ˈvi-yən\
Definition of CIVILIAN
1
: a specialist in Roman or modern civil law
2
a : one not on active duty in the armed services or not on a police or firefighting force

YahooEducation.com

Search Results
civilian
A person following the pursuits of civil life, especially one who is not an active member of the military or police. A specialist in Roman or civil law. Of or relating to civilians or civil life;...

Compact Oxford English Dictionary

Civilian
Pronunciation:/sɪˈvɪlj(ə)n/
noun
*
a person not in the armed services or the police force

Macmillan Dictionary

Civilian
someone who does not belong to the military or the police

Wordnik.com

Civilian
# A person following the pursuits of civil life, especially one who is not an active member of the military, the police, or a belligerent group.

Cambridge International Dictionary of English

Civilian
a person who is not a member of the police or the armed forces

Websters New World College Dictionary

Civilian
any person not an active member of the armed forces or of an official force having police power

Wordsmyth English Dictionary

Civilian
a person who is not serving in the military or the police.

[SkyStorm82]

I wonder why it's a sore spot with some?

[fullrearview]

We can debate this $#!t all day long.....We are Americans....End of story. Who cares how we serve and in what capacity, as long as we uphold the COTUS, protect life and property, uphold all laws.

[adrenaline]

I wonder why it's a sore spot with some?

I think those who are true servants and perform their duties very professionally have no problems with it (being labeled a civilian). I think others who feel that entitlement makes them above others, DO have a problem with it (those who talk down civilians when performing their duties).

I don't think LEO's should care honestly. At least they aren't forced to use FMJ's only.

[Triad]

This is a non-issue, in the grand scheme of things.

[Mssr. Eleganté]

The more interesting question is, how come all of the dictionaries 30 years ago said that police were civilians, but now many dictionaries say that police are not civilians?

What happened over the last 30 years that turned the police into non-civilians? Was it a good thing or a bad thing?

Here's how my Webster's Unabridged Dictionary from 1987 defines the word...

1. one who is skilled in civil or Roman law.
2. any person not in military or naval service.

And what about firefighters? Now some dictionaries are even including firefighters. Who's next, bus drivers? They work for the city and wear a uniform. So bus drivers aren't civilians either, right?

[5shot]

This is a non-issue, in the grand scheme of things.

My feelings exactly. It just gets old every time a leo here uses the term, he get a ration of crap for it, and then the thread ends up totally off topic.

[jtmkinsd]

This is a non-issue, in the grand scheme of things.

Yes...you are absolutely right...it's only an issue to some who really get their panties in a bunch when LEO's are (in their mind) not subject to the same rules as "civilians". I know some individuals who will argue this point to their dying breath...me, I've got better things to do with my time...lol

[sniper5]

The distinction is also getting more and more blurred as police become progressively more paramilitary.

[SoCalDep]

Yes...because the police never looked like the military before...

This is a sore spot not for cops, but for others who have some sort of social communistic attitude that we should all be treated the same regardless of our work in life.

I find it quite amusing.

[AJAX22]

Civilian is a legal term refering to the justice system which an individual is subject to.

Police are most definitly subject to civil courts.

They have been granted special privileges, and immunities from certain tort law in certain circumstances. But are still classified as civillians.

Webster doesn't get final say