beat cop
Neighborhood foot patrol
A beat cop is a police officer who patrols a specific area on foot rather than in a vehicle.
The beat is the assigned territory—a neighborhood, block, or district the officer walks regularly.
Beat cops represent traditional, street-level policing: The beat cop knew every shopkeeper by name.
- constableLow-ranking peace officer
- officerAuthority figure in uniform
- policeCivil law enforcement
- thin blue lineMetaphor for police
- patrolRegular surveillance route
precinct · local precinct · bluecoat · rounds · nightstick · community policing · uniform · bobby · copper · foot · neighborhood watch · urban policing · street corner · badge · alley · walkie-talkie · law enforcement · flashlight
- policeofficer, officers, patrol, police departments, detective
- policingpatrol, police powers, arrests, police officer, arrest
- cop filmsLethal Weapon, Hot Fuzz, RoboCop, Dirty Harry, Serpico
- Copscoppers, police, sheriff, deputy, trooper
- law enforcementFBI, police station, patrolmen, police officer, DEA
- Lawmensheriff, constable, marshal, deputy, lawman
beat copdetective
Professional crime investigator
police chief · commissioner · FBI agent · desk sergeant · special agent
beat copcriminal
Person who breaks laws
lawbreaker · outlaw · felon · gangster · fugitive
beat copundercover agent
Covert infiltrator gathering intelligence
covert operative · secret police · intelligence officer · shadow operative