Police-type jargon

[Alpo 6,629]

I've noticed on TV shows and in movies that the police constantly refer to the criminal as a "perp", and a pay as you go cell phone as a "burn phone".

 

I have also noticed that many many many many many people on the internet talk about "perps" and "burn phones". More than I would expect were police officers.

 

So first, I wish to know if actual police officers on this board use the terms "perp" and "burn phone", or if it's just Holly weird?

 

And second, I wish to know how many non-police officers use these terms? And if you do use these terms, did you start doing it because that's the way they say it on TV and in the movies?

[Smoken D 2,058]

"perp" is a kinder and gentler word than what we use to use. No such thing as burn phones in my day.

[Pat Riot, SASS #13748 22,367]

I know police and deputies in Clackamas County Oregon use “perp” and “burner phone”. I heard the terms a number of times when on Grand Jury Duty and with my interactions with them and various PD’s in my work on the Commuter Rail. 

[Marshal Hangtree 2,127]

3 minutes ago, Smoken D said:

"perp" is a kinder and gentler word than what we use to use. No such thing as burn phones in my day.

Same here, Smoken D.

[Rye Miles #13621 6,508]

On the TV show Criminal Minds they refer to the suspect as an "UNSUB".

[Utah Bob #35998 15,861]

Most of the jargon on tv originated with either LAPD or NYPD. 

[Tascosa, SASS# 24838 913]

I was before cell phones, only had them in my last year or so. But I have never heard the term 'perp' used in reference to a suspect. And that's what we used in court or mixed company SUSPECT. In unofficial conversation over a beer or two we had other names we used. One of the more nicer names were 'maggot.

 

[sassnetguy50 311]

We used many terms when referring to the burglar a few weeks ago, not one of them was perpetrator or unidentified subject.  There was no discussion of prepaid disposable phones.

[John Kloehr 982]

Perp... Non-police usage:

 

Some years back when I was working at a big box hardware store, one of the cashiers got caught "returning" items that were never purchased (scanning barcodes removed from items and "refunding" the purchase price).

 

The store let her continue doing so until the documented amount exceeded a certain criminal level. Then had the local PD show up at shift start for her arrest.

 

This was the day I learned thieving employees did a "perp walk" cuffed and escorted out of the store slowly so others could see.

[Colorado Coffinmaker 3,444]

 

Latest descriptive in my neck of the woods is "Actor."  Haven't actually herd the term "Perp" in years.  When I was in the law enforcement business, our terminology was much more graphic and not suitable for a "G" audience.  

[Alpo 6,629]

1 hour ago, Tascosa, SASS# 24838 said:

And that's what we used in court or mixed company SUSPECT.

They actually said that in Castle one time.

 

They're all standing around and Castle says something about perp. One of the guy cops asked why he calls them perps, and he says, "isn't that what you call 'em?"

 

The cop responds, "we call 'em a lot of things", and the two cops then start running through this long list of derogatory terms to use for members of the criminal element. The captain sticks his two cents in - "I'm old fashioned. I call 'em dirt bags".

 

Then Beckett says, "suspects. We call them suspects".

[John Barleycorn, SASS #76982 1,046]

Dirtbags use burners 

[Buffalo Creek Law Dog 355]

3 hours ago, Tascosa, SASS# 24838 said:

I was before cell phones, only had them in my last year or so. But I have never heard the term 'perp' used in reference to a suspect. And that's what we used in court or mixed company SUSPECT. In unofficial conversation over a beer or two we had other names we used. One of the more nicer names were 'maggot.

 

 

Unofficially, we used to call them pukes.

[Smoken D 2,058]

40 minutes ago, Buffalo Creek Law Dog said:

 

Unofficially, we used to call them pukes.

 

East Side peckerheads were called BEMS. (Booger Eating Morons) When things became a more gentler and kinder police department, after my time,  this term was no longer tolerated. 

[Red Gauntlet , SASS 60619 889]

7 hours ago, Utah Bob #35998 said:

Most of the jargon on tv originated with either LAPD or NYPD. 

 

Right, I think. The 'perp walk' was an NYPD tradition and term.

[Cyrus Cassidy #45437 1,720]

Police jargon is regional.  NO ONE in the West uses "perp," but I understand they do in New York City.  

 

"Burn phone" is otherwise known by its brand name, "Crickett."