NewsBlues mrsbgrammar Page 66
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Mrs. Bluezette's Grammar Guide
suspect, trusty/trustee
Mrs. B hears "suspect" and "suspects" misused all too often.
It's a good idea to avoid using police jargon when possible, but if
you do use it, use it correctly.
WSMV's anchor, Dan Miller, offers this clear explanation:
"Crimes are not committed by `suspects.' They are committed by
men, women, robbers, rapists, gunmen, bad guys, etc. A suspect
is a specific person who has been named, arrested, charged or in
some way implicated in a crime.
"There are no UNKNOWN suspects. To say, `The woman was
attacked by an unknown suspect' is silly. And police can't look
for the suspect unless they know who he or she is.
"You can correctly say, `There are no suspects.' But DON'T say,
`The store's security camera shows the suspect holding a gun on
the clerk.' What the video shows is the robber."
While we're on the subject of miscreants, here's another heads up.
An inmate who gets a job outside the jail for good behavior is called
a "trusty," NOT a "trustee."
