posse comitatus

Found in Anh - Anh (Wordnet)

Definition Noun : 1. A temporary police force : A group of ordinary citizens who are summoned by a sheriff or other law enforcement official to assist in law enforcement, typically to pursue a fugitive or quell a disturbance. Historically, this refers to the common law power of a sheriff to call upon the able-bodied men of a county to aid in keeping the peace. Usage The term is used to describe...