AllMovie

Edward G. Robinson narrates this TV documentary, which originally appeared March 18, 1962 as part of the weekly anthology The DuPont Show of the Week. The film traces the history of law enforcement in the United States, from revolutionary times to the present. Among the factoids submitted for your approval during the film's 60 minutes is the origin of the nickname "Cop." All right, we won't keep you in suspense: "Cop" is short for "coppers", referring to the copper buttons on the uniforms of 19th century New York policemen. An abbreviated, updated version of Cops and Robbers showed up on the A&E cable service in the early 1990s.