crimebuster

plural crimebusters · alternative crime-buster · alternative crime buster

1. USinformalA person, especially a law enforcement officer, who is particularly effective in thwarting criminal activity and in bringing criminals to justice.

   This corporation law background is less known than his record as a crime-buster.

   1938 April 10, Louther S. Horne, “Loesch Tells How to Beat Crime: A Need is Seen for Fearless Prosecutors”, in New York Times, page 120

   2 more examples

   Bit by bit, J. Edgar Hoover's image as an incorruptible crimebuster has crumbled since his death in 1972.

   1976 August 2, “Dipping into the Cookie Jar”, in Time

   Swayze's ruthless crimebuster never hesitates—and as he plugs street scum full of bullets and pursues his own form of frontier justice with a hard, penetrating squint, we find ourselves rooting for a character who, in lesser hands, could be perceived as downright ugly.

   2009, Joel Rubinoff, "Swayze breathes life into killing" (TV review), Toronto Star, 22 Jan. (retrieved 22 Jan. 2009)

   Synonyms: gangbuster