A person who is not a member of the police or military is called a civilian. Civilians are individuals who do not belong to the armed forces, police, or other emergency services such as fire departments
. The term "civilian" specifically denotes those who are outside of military or police roles and are generally protected under laws of armed conflict from being targeted in military operations
. In summary:
- Civilians are not members of the military or police forces.
- They do not hold commissions or ranks in these organizations.
- Civilians are distinct from non-combatants, as some non-combatants may be affiliated with military support roles but are not combatants themselves
- Regular police officers are considered civilians because they are not part of the military, even if they work in law enforcement roles
Thus, the correct term for a person who is not a member of the police or military is civilian.
