Ociffer

A person holding a position, especially but not exclusively in the public sector,who is claiming some sort of equivalence in rank,status or authority to a commissioned officer in the armed forces. The most common example of this in the United Kingdom is that of ‘police officer’ a term which is even (mis)used in legislation. The origin of the word is in the scenario of a police constable stopping an erratic driver on suspicion of drunken driving were the suspect confirms the Police Constable’s suspicions by asking “what appears to be the problem ociffer?”. The reason it is incorrect for British policemen and women to be called officers is that the civil equivalent of a military commission is the commission of the peace which is held by Justices of the Peace. A police constable holds the king’s warrant not the king’s commission. Legally Constable is the only police rank,other ‘ranks’ such as Chief Superintendent,are at best appointments (like the army equivalent of a warrant officer 1st class holding the appointment of RSM) at worst internal job descriptions.