police

n. [ F., fr. L. politia the condition of a state, government, administration, Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; to be a citizen, to govern or administer a state, fr. &unr_; citizen, fr. &unr_; city; akin to Skr. pur, puri. Cf. Policy polity, Polity. ] 1. A judicial and executive system, for the government of a city, town, or district, for the preservation of rights, order, cleanliness, health, etc., and for the enforcement of the laws and prevention of crime; the administration of the laws and regulations of a city, incorporated town, or borough. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which concerns the order of the community; the internal regulation of a state. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The organized body of civil officers in a city, town, or district, whose particular duties are the preservation of good order, the prevention and detection of crime, and the enforcement of the laws. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Mil.) Military police, the body of soldiers detailed to preserve civil order and attend to sanitary arrangements in a camp or garrison. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The cleaning of a camp or garrison, or the state &unr_; a camp as to cleanliness. [ 1913 Webster ]

Police commissioner, a civil officer, usually one of a board, commissioned to regulate and control the appointment, duties, and discipline of the police. --
Police constable, or
Police officer, a policeman. --
Police court, a minor court to try persons brought before it by the police. --
Police inspector, an officer of police ranking next below a superintendent. --
Police jury, a body of officers who collectively exercise jurisdiction in certain cases of police, as levying taxes, etc.; -- so called in Louisiana. Bouvier. --
Police justice, or
Police magistrate, a judge of a police court. --
Police offenses (Law), minor offenses against the order of the community, of which a police court may have final jurisdiction. --
Police station, the headquarters of the police, or of a section of them; the place where the police assemble for orders, and to which they take arrested persons. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Policed p. pr. & vb. n. Policing. ] 1. To keep in order by police. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mil.) To make clean; as, to police a camp. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Regulated by laws for the maintenance of peace and order, enforced by organized administration. “A policed kingdom.” Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Policemen A member of a body of police; a constable. [ 1913 Webster ]