Why Are Police Officers Called 12? Its Origins Likely Date Back to the 1960s

Many other people refer to police officers simply as “12,” however why is that so? The foundation of the term isn’t as straightforward as it's possible you'll suppose.

Odds are you’ve come across several Tweets, videos, and other posts on social media referring to police officers in fresh weeks. As you scroll via them, you could realize that many people refer to the police officers as “12.” Generally, the “12” is preceded via something that makes it very clear that the individual making the publish in point of fact doesn’t like the police, to put it evenly (e.g., “f--k 12”). 

Given the nature of these kinds of posts, they have a tendency to briefly make the internet rounds, leading to increasingly other people using the term — but do they if truth be told know what it approach? Why are police called “12”? As it seems, the internet doesn’t seem to have come to an settlement on that one.

Why are police called “12”?

For each Tweet and video that refers to police officers as “12,” there are almost as many from people asking why “12” manner “the police.” No single supply appears to agree on the answer, however there are a few explanations that people seem to have settled on, and one rationalization that turns out the maximum likely.

The most popular etymology (albeit a rather extraordinary one) says that the “12” nickname originates from Adam-12, a show about law enforcement officials that ran from 1968 to 1974. The display follows two cops as they trip the streets in Lon Angeles of their patrol unit, 1-Adam-12. Although it'll seem bizarre for modern-day slang to reference a 50+-year-old tv display, this is similar to where we get the term “5-0” (or “five-oh”) — that term is a reference to Hawaii 5-0, some other cop display from around the identical technology. 

Another principle states that “12” refers particularly to narcotics officers (no longer all police officers typically). The major proof people give for this origin is Migos’ song, “F--k 12,” which accommodates the lyrics, “Aye throw that s--t, throw that s--t, 12 outdoor.” Basically announcing to throw medication outside in order to not be stuck by the DEA.

Yet some other concept says that “12” comes from the numbers 911 adding up to 12. But ... they upload up to 11, so that one is out.

Finally, the last idea we got here across references the initialism “ACAB,” which stands for “All Cops Are B-----ds.” Sometimes, folks use “1312” as an alternative of the letters ACAB (using 1 to represent A, 3 to constitute C, and 2 to represent B). In this idea, other folks are shortening the phrase to simply “12.” It’d make extra sense to use “13” (“All Cops”) in this case, though, so we feel lovely assured announcing this could also be a false etymology.

All things considered, it sort of feels as although the show Adam-12 is the most likely beginning point for the usage of the time period “12” to refer to police officers. Even although a large portion of the people using “12” to talk about cops most certainly haven’t noticed (or heard of!) the display, it’s transparent that the term has some staying power given its in style use across the internet and in actual existence. The extra you understand!

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