plainclothesmen
Cops in disguise
Plainclothesmen are police officers or detectives who wear ordinary civilian clothing rather than uniforms while on duty, typically for surveillance or undercover work.
The term is dated; plainclothes officers or detectives now predominates: Two plainclothesmen waited outside the suspect's apartment.
Professional crime investigator
- sleuthPrivate investigator
- gumshoeInformal term for detective
- inspectorOfficial quality checker
- constableLow-ranking peace officer
sergeant · lieutenant · agent · inquiry · probe · case · evidence · clues
Professional crime investigator
- investigatorOne who examines evidence
- civilianNon-military person
- incognitoWith identity concealed
- covertIntentionally concealed
unmarked · nonuniformed · undetected · inconspicuous · blend · disguised · unobtrusive · mufti
Prolonged covert observation
- shadowingFollowing to observe
- trackingMonitoring location over time
- observationAttentive watching or remark
- watchingActively looking at something
tailing · monitoring · reconnaissance · snooping · informant · wiretap · bugging · eavesdropping
detective
Professional crime investigator
constable · sergeant · lieutenant · agent · inquiry · probe · case · evidence · clues · witness
detective
Professional crime investigator
- investigatorOne who examines evidence
- civilianNon-military person
- incognitoWith identity concealed
covert · unmarked · nonuniformed · undetected · inconspicuous · blend · disguised · unobtrusive · mufti · unidentifiable
stakeout
Prolonged covert observation
- shadowingFollowing to observe
- trackingMonitoring location over time
- observationAttentive watching or remark
watching · tailing · monitoring · reconnaissance · snooping · informant · wiretap · bugging · eavesdropping · infiltration
plainclothesmenbeat cops
Officers patrolling assigned neighborhoods
patrol officers · uniforms · riot police · traffic cops · military police