Policing Glossary

20 terms

My name is Emy-Rose Goulet, I am seventeen years old, and I am studying in the general formation program. I was in Social Science for the autumn sessions but right now, it's my first session in the general formation program. I decided that I wanted to be a police officer, that is why I made a policing glossary for all the new students in the Police Technology. In brief, a police officer is someone who has the job to protect people and property by enforcing the law.They work in a variety of situations, including responding to emergencies, patrolling, and investigating crimes. My glossary will be useful for understanding the basic terms that a police officer will use throughout his career.

active shooter
Individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area.
alibi
Piece of evidence that one was elsewhere when an act, especially a criminal one, is alleged to have taken place.
ap
Acronym for "arrested person".
arrest
To seize and hold under the authority of law.
assault
Direct or indirect application of force to another person, or the attempt to apply force to another person, without that person's consent.
authority
Statutory or policy-vested right to give commands, enforce obedience, initiate action and make necessary decisions.
badge
Distinctive emblem worn as a mark of office, membership, achievement or licensed employment.
beat
Designation for the specific territorial assignment or district of a Patrol Division officer.
break and enter
Act of entering a place with the intent to commit an indictable offense therein.
bulletproof vest
Vest capable of resisting the impact of a bullet.
charge
Accuse someone of an offense under law.
contraband
Property unlawful to possess.
crime rates
Based on the number of incidents reported to police per 100,000 population.
criminal offense
Violation against the Criminal Code of Canada or other federal statute, provincial act or municipal by-law.
diplomatic agents
Ambassadors and other diplomatic officers who have the function of dealing directly with the host country.
evidentiary property
Property revelant to a crime.
exhibit
Document or another object produced in a court as evidence.
homicide
Causes of death of a human being.
robbery
Act of stealing, and for the purpose of extorting whatever is stolen or to prevent or overcome resistance to the stealing, using violence or threats of violence to a person or property.
victim
Person who is the target of a violent or aggressive action and should not be confused with a complainant who is the target of a non-violent incident.