Definition

1. Noun:
   • A police sergeant assigned to desk duty at a police station: A "deskman" is a police officer, specifically holding the rank of sergeant, whose primary duties are performed at a desk within a police station. This role typically involves administrative tasks, receiving reports, and coordinating station activities.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The deskman took down all the details of the incident. (The police sergeant at the desk recorded all the information about the incident.)
  • Ask the deskman for directions to the records room. (Inquire with the sergeant on desk duty for directions to the records room.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "deskman" is somewhat dated and specific to certain police organizational structures. In modern contexts, the role and its responsibilities are often described by terms like "desk sergeant" or "station officer."
  • In the old precinct, the deskman was the first point of contact for the public.

Variants and Related Words

• Desk sergeant (n): A more common and contemporary synonym for "deskman," referring to a sergeant in charge of the front desk at a police station.
• Station officer (n): A broader term for an officer performing administrative duties at a police station.

Synonyms

• Desk sergeant: The sergeant on duty at the front desk.
• Watch commander: In some departments, the officer in charge of a shift, who may perform desk duties.

Notes on Meaning

• The word "deskman" specifically denotes a rank (sergeant) and a function (desk duty). It is not a general term for any officer at a desk but refers to a specific supervisory role. The term is less common in everyday modern English.

Noun

1. the police sergeant on duty in a police station