police force

[pəˈliːs fɔːrs]
nounfemininepl: police forces / forças policiais
força policial
1. An organized body of law enforcement officers employed by a government to maintain public order and enforce the law
The local police force arrested the suspect after a thorough investigation.
A força policial local prendeu o suspeito após uma investigação minuciosa.
2. The collective group of police officers operating within a specific jurisdiction
The police force in this city has over 2,000 officers.
A força policial desta cidade tem mais de 2.000 policiais.
In Brazil, the police force is divided into different branches including Polícia Militar (Military Police) and Polícia Civil (Civil Police), each with distinct roles. In the USA, police forces vary significantly by jurisdiction (federal, state, county, municipal), and this decentralized system differs markedly from most other countries.
NYC Slang
NYPD (New York Police Department) - commonly referred to as 'the cops' or 'the precinct' in local parlance
Synonyms / Sinônimos
police departmentlaw enforcement agencypolice serviceconstabulary
Antonyms / Antônimos
criminalsoutlaws

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
força policial
Most common and formal term used throughout Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
polícia
Often shortened to just 'polícia' in casual speech
São Paulo
corporação policial
Alternative formal term sometimes used
Portugal
força de polícia
Portuguese variation with slightly different word order

Related Words

officerpatrolprecinctenforcement

Related Idioms & Phrases

call the police force
join the police force
expand the police force
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