flatfoots
Officers on patrol
Flatfoots is the plural of flatfoot in its slang sense: police officers, especially those who patrol on foot.
The term dates to an era when beat cops walked their routes, and it carries a mildly disparaging or humorous tone: A couple of flatfoots showed up asking questions.
The medical condition uses flat feet as its plural.
Informal term for detective
- sleuthPrivate investigator
- investigatorOne who examines evidence
- inspectorOfficial quality checker
- dickVulgar anatomical slang
plainclothesman · operative · PI · shamus · peeper · surveillance · stakeout · case
Law enforcement slang
- patrolmanOfficer walking assigned territory
- beatRhythmic pulse or strike
- officerAuthority figure in uniform
- constableLow-ranking peace officer
badge · uniform · patrol · precinct · squad · arrest · duty · sergeant
Moving slowly, heavily
- lumberingMoving heavily and awkwardly
- heavy-footedWalking loud and clumsily
- ungainlyLacking ease of movement
- awkwardLacking grace or ease
clumsy · shuffling · trudging · shambling · blundering · cloddish · flat-footed · stumbling
gumshoe
Informal term for detective
- sleuthPrivate investigator
- investigatorOne who examines evidence
- inspectorOfficial quality checker
dick · plainclothesman · operative · PI · shamus · peeper · surveillance · stakeout · case · suspect
cop
Law enforcement slang
- patrolmanOfficer walking assigned territory
- beatRhythmic pulse or strike
- officerAuthority figure in uniform
constable · badge · uniform · patrol · precinct · squad · arrest · duty · sergeant · enforcement
plodding
Moving slowly, heavily
- lumberingMoving heavily and awkwardly
- heavy-footedWalking loud and clumsily
- ungainlyLacking ease of movement
awkward · clumsy · shuffling · trudging · shambling · blundering · cloddish · flat-footed · stumbling · graceless
flatfootscriminals
Lawbreakers by act
crooks · lawbreakers · outlaws · gangsters · mobsters
flatfootsprivate eyes
Licensed freelance detectives
gumshoes · amateurs · civilians · suspects · perpetrators