This study is part of a broader research project on categorization and power manifestations in the labels, stigmas and stereotypes pervading police officers' and civilians' speech in a suburban, low-income northern Trinidad community. Emergent meaning construction strategies are used to offer descriptions revealing how the vocabulary of the authors of the formal labels draw up power via their contextual, cultural and situational expressions. 11 formal labels were identified as handled by their authors to propose interpretative and interactive frames which modify and revive meanings working between police and civilian within the examined community.