officer of the law
Enforcer with authority
An officer of the law is a person with legal authority to enforce laws—typically a police officer, sheriff, or similar official.
The phrase is formal and somewhat old-fashioned, appearing in legal contexts and period dramas: Open up in the name of the law! I'm an officer of the law!
Modern usage tends toward simpler terms like police officer or cop.
- patrollingMonitoring by traversing
- on dutyActively at one's station
- sworn oathFormal binding promise
- Miranda rightsSuspect's custodial advisement
- criminal codeLaws defining offenses and penalties
badge · serve and protect · constitutional rights · sheriff · arresting · judicial oversight · detective · plain clothes · crime scene · firearm · constable · due process · sergeant · investigating · captain · lieutenant · warrants · chief
officer of the lawvigilante
Extralegal justice-seeker
outlaw · rogue agent · mercenary · bounty hunter · lynch mob
officer, officers, office, offices, official, officials, officially, officiate, officiating