law enforcement officer

[law en-fawrs-muhnt aw-fuh-ser, of-uh-ser]

noun

1. a government employee whose main duties involve preventing, detecting, or punishing violations of the law; police officers, state troopers, sheriffs, rangers, etc., when considered collectively. LEO

Word History and Origins

Origin of law enforcement officer¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

“Listen, I understand that it being a law enforcement officer is scary,” former Capitol police officer Harry Dunn told me Wednesday during a press event for the immigration organization America’s Voice.

From Los Angeles Times

Like the choice to become a federal law enforcement officer, hiding their identity while doing their duty is a personal decision.

From Los Angeles Times

“The nice thing about being a law enforcement officer is if somebody does something illegal to you, you have the resources to investigate and have them criminally charged,” Chin said.

From Los Angeles Times

As Missouri’s top law enforcement officer, Bailey repeatedly waded into fights over diversity, gender, abortion and other hot-button issues, while casting conservatives and Christians as under siege by the “woke” left.

From Salon

Tuesday’s decision in the case against the Department of Homeland Security adds a provision to Vera’s previous ruling, also restricting the use of less-lethal weapons against “protesters who are not themselves posing a threat of imminent harm to a law enforcement officer or another person.”

From Los Angeles Times