Why Are Police Officers Called Five-O?

There are plenty of nicknames for police, like cop, pig, and 5-O. While cop and pig have origins that can be traced back to the 1800s and the 1960s, 5-O’s origin is shrouded in a bit more mystery. Some say it’s because of the popular television series, Hawaii Five-O, while others say it’s because of the cars the police used to drive. In this article, we dive deep into why police are called 5O and other nicknames.

Why are cops called 5-O?

There are various theories as to why cops are called 5-O (“five-oh”). The most popular theory is that the nickname stems from the popular 1960s show, Hawaii Five-O, which follows a group of special police in the 50th state. Another theory is that it comes from Ford’s 5.0-liter engines, which police used in the 80s.

Section 1 of 7:

Why are the police called 5-O?

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The famous 1960s television program, Hawaii Five-O, reportedly produced the slang term “five-O.” The show follows a fictional state police force as they fight crime across Hawaii, the 50th state of the United States. The show’s title is a direct reference to its setting being the 50th state, and, due to the popularity of the drama, 5-O (or five-O) has become another slang word for the police.^{[1]
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Alternatively, cops may be called 5-O because they used Ford’s 5.0-liter engines. A YouTube video from County Office Law claims that police are called 5-O because of the 5.0-liter engine badges that were on their unmarked cars back in the ‘80s. The theory claims that lookouts for drug dealers would shout “Five-Oh!” whenever they spotted the unmarked cars to warn the dealers that police were approaching.
- This theory has yet to be proven, but it’s extremely possible, as the NYPD did use unmarked Chevrolet Caprices in the 1980s, which have a 5.0-liter engine.^{[2]
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Section 2 of 7:

Why are police called cops?

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The “cops” nickname is likely linked to the definition of ‘cop:’ “to capture.” Although there are various prevailing theories that claim to be the reason why police are called cops, most people believe that the nickname stems from the original definition of the word cop, which is to “capture, catch, lay hold of, or nab.” This definition has been around for centuries, so this theory makes sense.^{[3]
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- Another theory claims it’s because their badges are made of copper. One of the most prevalent theories as to why police are called cops is because their badges were believed to be made out of copper back in the 19th century. This is also where the “copper” nickname is said to have originated.^{[4]
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  Research source} Unfortunately, this theory is likely untrue, as police badges were often made of tin or nickel back then.
- Yet another theory says it’s short for “constable on patrol.” This phrase has been used here and there to describe police officers over the years, so it makes sense that its abbreviation could be used as a nickname. But there’s no solid proof stating that cop originates from the shortening of constable on patrol.^{[5]
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Why are police called 12?

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Cops are most likely called 12 because of the 10-12 police code. Across cities and suburbs in the United States, younger folks often call police “12.” This nickname has been popularized primarily by hip-hop culture, with rappers like Migos and Ken Carson repeatedly using the term in their songs. Although the origin is unclear, one theory says the nickname stems from the “10-12” police code, which means others are present and that an officer isn’t alone.^{[6]
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- Another theory attributes the nickname to the Adam-12 TV show. The 1968 TV series Adam 12 was a police drama that followed the lives of officers Pete Malloy and Jim Reed as they patrolled the Los Angeles streets. Their patrol unit was dubbed 1-Adam-12.
- With the name of the unit and show, the “12” nickname may have been born from the popular show, but no one knows for sure.^{[7]
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Why are police called the Fuzz?

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Police officers may be called “The Fuzz” because of their fuzzy hats. This nickname was a popular way to refer to police in the 1960s and 1970s. The origin isn’t 100% clear, but some believe that it refers to the fuzzy hats worn by English police officers and guard members. This theory has yet to be proven, though.^{[8]
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- Others believe it refers to the short, fuzzy haircuts often sported by officers. One of the common caricatures of a police officer is the dude with a short, fuzzy buzzcut and a long, fuzzy mustache.
- Considering this nickname was popular in the 70s, when everyone was sporting some extra fuzzy hair, it makes sense that police officers would be called “the fuzz,” as they were probably the definition of fuzzy.^{[9]
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  Research source} This theory also isn’t proven.
- There are even some who believe it’s just a simple way to abbreviate “the force.” The force is another way to refer to police (particularly a whole department), and with the similar pronunciations of the two phrases, some have come to believe that police are called “the fuzz” as a way to shorten “the force.”^{[10]
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- Like the other fuzzy theories, this one has yet to be proven.

Section 5 of 7:

Other Common Police Nicknames

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Pigs Since the 16th century, English people from London have used the word “pig” to refer to describe a greedy or morally lacking person. By the mid-20th century, it narrowed to police.^{[11]
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- During the protests of the Vietnam War, protesters started using the term to express displeasure toward police officers.
- It’s stuck since then, being used by The Black Panther Party in the 70s, energized Black Lives Matter protesters in the 2020s, and other modern-day protest groups.^{[12]
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The Heat Although the origin of this police nickname is unknown, it’s believed that people call police “The Heat” because of the metaphorical pressure and heat they put on those they’re after or arresting. Another prevailing theory is that the nickname refers to the flashing of police lights.
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The Boys in Blue This is a classic, well-liked nickname for cops. The “Boys in Blue” refers to the navy-colored uniforms worn by police officers. It is associated with popular pro-police movements, like Back the Blue or the Thin Blue Line.
- Boys in Blue is sometimes considered a humorous nickname for police, but many use it seriously.^{[13]
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Barney Barney is used to describe police officers who seem inept, bumbling, or overzealous. The term is a reference to the character Barney Fife from the popular 1960s show, The Andy Griffith Show. Fife was a law enforcement officer who was obsessed with doing things by the book, oftentimes to the point of absurdity, so it’s no surprise that he’s been immortalized with this nickname.^{[14]
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Old-Fashioned Police Nicknames

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This old-timey nickname refers to the fact that detectives have to sneak around and move stealthily when they’re trying to piece together the events of a crime. In the 1800s, the gum rubber that composed many soft-soled shoes made it so your steps were soft. Initially, gumshoe was used to describe sneaky people, but it eventually narrowed down to police.^{[15]
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This one originates from the mascot, Smokey the Bear. The mascot wears a flat-brimmed campaign hat, which resembles the hats worn by state troopers. This resemblance birthed the nickname “Smokey,” which was further popularized by the 1977 film Smokey and the Bandit, where it was also used to refer to police.^{[16]
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Like “the fuzz,” “the man” was a popular police nickname in the 1960s and 1970s. During these years, police and other government authorities were seen as a powerful group that intended to suppress the various protests and movements of the time, simply being referred to as “the man.” The term encompassed the broad authoritative powers at the time, not just the police.^{[17]
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Section 7 of 7:

Nicknames for Police Around the World

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Bobbies In Britain, police are often called “Bobbies” thanks to Sir Robert Peel, the founder of the London police. Founded in 1829, the London Police were called “Bobbies” thanks to Peel’s first name, Robert, which is often shortened to Bob. Since then, they’ve been referred to as “Bobbies” or “Bobbies on the Beat” by Britons. Other British nicknames for police include:^{[18]
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- Blue bottle: A Cockney mixture of bottle and glass.
- Rozz: Abbreviation of “report on summons.”
- Nicker: Slang for when a cop “nicks” (arrests) a suspect.
- Plodder: Named after Mr. Plod, the local policeman in the popular Noddy children’s books.
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Mountie In Canada, “mountie” is often used to refer members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Short for “mounted,” mountie refers to the fact that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police historically patrolled on horseback. Although they don’t ride horses as much, the nickname has stuck. Other Canadian nicknames for police include:.^{[19]
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- Gravel Road Cops: Alludes to the fact that mounted police patrol areas with gravel roads, like forests, mountains, and rural areas.
- O Po Po: Short for “Ontario Provincial Police.”
- PC: Short for “provincial constables.”
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Pikachu In Vietnam, Pikachu is often used to refer to traffic police, as their yellow uniforms resemble the popular mythical Pokémon, Pikachu.^{[20]
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Research source} Other Vietnamese terms for police include:
- Cảnh sát: Translates to “police.”
- Dồng chí: Translates to “comrade.”