why do we call cops '' pigs''?

If you thought the term pig arose in the 1960s, you're in for a surprise. The OED cites an 1811 reference to a "pig" as a Bow Street Runner--the early police force, named after the location of their headquarters, before Sir Robert Peel and the Metropolitan Police Force (see above.) Before that, the term "pig" had been used as early as the mid-1500s to refer to a person who is heartily disliked.

The usage was probably confined to the criminal classes until the 1960s, when it was taken up by protestors. False explanations for the term involve the gas masks worn by the riot police in that era, or the pigs in charge of George Orwell's Animal Farm.

While police officers usually don't mind being called "cops," they aren't usually fond of the term "pig." A policeman's lot is not an 'appy one.

The ones who use the term "pig" are either ignorant or criminals. You want to bash cops as being "crooked, dirty, corrupt" until you need one to help you out. The fact is, generally speaking, if you were a contributing part of society you would rarely have any encounter with police officers. There are more petty, immoral and corrupt people on the street bad mouthing good police officers than than there are bad cops!

the term refers back to early prohibition when cops were being paid off and were just plain dirty. Pigs are considered a dirty animal hence the reason why cops were called pigs.

It comes from the old cartoons,when the cops were dressed like pigs.It caught on and was used there after.

this is an extremely interesting question that has gotten some of the most interesting answers.

i thot they were called pigs coz they like pigs hardened themselves against all odds, they clean up the garbage of society. their diet is crap and they, like real pigs, work towards cleaning the earth of scum!!!!

not all of us do that it is the stupid people that do it and shame on them....the police officers work hard to keep us safe and their job is very hard, they risk their lifes every day. i admit sometimes i say the word cop's but only in respect.........

i believe it comes from the protests of college students in the 60's. i remember in atlanta back then one of the police stations even adopted the name the pig pen.

Not sure, but cops have spun this to stand for: "Pride Integrity Guts"

We're polite, actually.

We'd be insulting pigs if we called them "cops."

Gerbils were tried first, but the name didn't catch on at all.