Police technology glossary
I'm currently a student at Ahuntsic College in the field of Police Technology. I will share a glossary of some words that are common to use when it comes to the police. You may already know some words in my glossary or some of them may seem to be easy to understand, but they are very useful when you talk about this field of study.
- Assailant
- noun
- person who assaults or attacks
- Example: Did you see the assailant run away?
- fr: agresseur/agresseuse
- backup
- noun
- police that are called in to support or help
- Example: We're calling for backup now that we know she has a gun.
- bail
- noun
- A large amount of money that someone pays as a promise to appear in court.
- Example: Your husband's bail is posted at $20,000.
- fr: caution
- baton
- noun
- heavy stick that police use for controlling crowds or defending themselves
- Example: No, we don't have guns. We only have batons.
- fr: matraque
- break into
- verb
- To enter a residence, car, or business illegally.
- Example: Do you have any idea who would have broken into your house?
- fr: entrer par effraction
- criminal record
- noun
- A file that lists all of the crimes a person has committed.
- Example: We don't allow anyone with a criminal record into our country.
- fr: Dossier criminel
- crime scene
- noun
- The place where a crime happened.
- Example: This is a crime scene.
- fr: scène de crime
- detective
- noun
- The police officer responsible for solving crime.
- Example: The detective is going to ask you a few questions about the man's appearance.
- fr: détective
- To escape
- verb
- To get away from a holding place.
- Example: If you try to escape we will have to restrain you with handcuffs.
- fr: s'échapper
- fingerprints
- noun
- Marks that are left by fingers to identify a person.
- Example: We're going to have to check your personal belongings for fingerprints.
- fr: empreintes
- guilty
- adjective
- To be responsible for a crime, deserving of punishment.
- Example: You will be considered innocent until you are proven guilty.
- fr: coupable
- handcuffs
- noun
- Metal rings that attach to wrists to keep criminals (or the accused) from escaping.
- Example: We put your boyfriend in handcuffs because we saw him climbing through your window and thought he was an intruder.
- fr: menottes
- To patrol
- verb
- To observe and protect an area
- Example: We always patrol downtown on the weekends.
- fr: patrouiller
- robbery
- noun
- Taking something that does not belong to you.
- Example: We have twenty officers investigating the bank robbery.
- fr: vol
- To witness
- verb
- To see something happen.
- perpetrator
- noun
- A person who committed the crime.
- Example: The perpetrator is still at large.
- fr: auteur/autrice
- thief
- noun
- Somebody who steals.
- Example: We have found the thief who stole your car.
- pursuit
- verb
- The acts of searching for.
- Example: We are in pursuit of a man in a green jacket.
- fr: poursuivre
- gang
- noun
- A group of people often associated with crime and drugs.
- Example: Stay away from this area at night as there is a lot of gang activity.
- fr: groupe
- innocent
- adjective
- The person not responsible for the crime.
- Example: We'll believe you are innocent when you show us your receipt for the items in the bag.
- fr: innocent
- partner
- noun
- Example: I'm going to get you to tell your story to my partner.
- fr: Another officer that a policeman drives and works with.