01 n. A judicial and executive system, for the government of a city, town, or district, for the preservation of rights, order, cleanliness, healt…
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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.
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2.
That which concerns the order of the community; the internal regulation of a state.
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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.
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4.
Military police, the body of soldiers detailed to preserve civil order and attend to sanitary arrangements in a camp or garrison.(Mil.)
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5.
The cleaning of a camp or garrison, or the state � a camp as to cleanliness.
Phrases & compounds
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 —
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.
Police justice —
a judge of a police court.
Police offenses —
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.