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 a specific, legally authorized group formed for a temporary, urgent law enforcement purpose.
• It is often associated with the American Old West, where a sheriff would form a posse comitatus to chase outlaws.
• In modern legal contexts, it can refer to the general principle of the power to call a civilian force, though the practice is now rare.

Examples

• "The sheriff quickly assembled a posse comitatus from the townsfolk to track down the escaped prisoners."
• "The principle of posse comitatus allowed local law enforcement to deputize citizens in times of emergency."
• "Historically, the posse comitatus was a vital tool for maintaining order in frontier territories with limited formal police presence."

Advanced Usage

• "Posse Comitatus Act": This is a related but distinct term. It refers to a specific United States federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1385) that generally prohibits the use of the U.S. Army and Air Force for domestic law enforcement (acting as a posse comitatus) unless expressly authorized by the Constitution or an act of Congress. This is a crucial legal doctrine separating military and civilian police powers.
  • Example: "The deployment was scrutinized for potential violations of the Posse Comitatus Act."

Variants and Related Words

• Posse (noun): A common shortening of posse comitatus. In modern informal usage, it can also mean a person's group of friends or associates.
  • Example (historical/law): "The sheriff and his posse rode out at dawn."
  • Example (informal): "She went to the mall with her posse."

Synonyms

• Deputized group: A group of people given temporary police authority.
• Civilian posse: Emphasizes the non-professional, citizen-based nature of the force.
• Sheriff's posse: Specifies the authority figure who summons the group.

Notes on Meaning

The core meaning of posse comitatus is the group itself—the temporary force. The related Posse Comitatus Act deals with the legal restriction on using the military for such a purpose. It is important to distinguish between the historical/common law concept and the modern U.S. federal law.

Noun

1. a temporary police force