POLICE NICKNAMES

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 31, 6 August 1923, Page 4

POLICE NICKNAMES

Nicknames ate applied .to policemen everywhere. AVith us "bobby" owps his epithet to Sir .Robert Pod, who friuned the bill that organised the force in Orcat Britain. American police arc everywhere called "cops" or "coppers." The police ot Spain are serenes, from a custom that formerly prevailed -there. Once every hour it was the duty of the man on the beat to cry out the state of the weather. As it was usually clear, his cry was "tiempo sereiio," and the word sereno (clear) became synonymous with policeman. Tlie name has followed the Spaniards across the seas in to their now possessions. The policeman's outfit for ortence and defence varies from a walking, arsenal, such as the Jericho policeman possesses, to the clubless patrol man of one or two American cities. The baton, however,>is generally recognised as the policeman's badge of. authority. In Barreeling. India, the policeman carries a reed "pole about six feet lons.. In Seville Spain, the night police are, says the "Pa-ll Mall Gazette," armed with long spears, such as the knights of old used. The police of Holland, Belgium, and many other countries are armed with a short sabre besides the regulation baton and_ pistol. The police of various dominions generally wear a uniform adapted in some way from that of the English "bobby " and with some modification for climate. The helmet is usually part of the outfit, and the barefoot Zulu police ofiico, would not consider himself dressed without it. In the country and smaller towtiti theso Zulu-policemen oari'v.native weapons, lincludiiig , speaf and shield; -Nevertheless, they are zomniiminned officers of tho hiw duly authorised 'to m'rest any person who may be caught disturbing the peace of His Britannic Majesty's Empire.