The police was/were ?

[bpteo]

Hi,

Hope someone can help with this question.

The police (was , were) desperate to capture the outlaw who had outwitted them several times and made them look foolish.

Should the answer be 'was' or 'were' ?

 

[2006]

Hi,

Hope someone can help with this question.

The police (was , were) desperate to capture the outlaw who had outwitted them several times and made them look foolish.

Should the answer be 'was' or 'were' ?

"were", because here "police" refers to members of the police department.

but

The policeman was desperate..... :tick:
The police department was desperate... :tick:

British English may disagree with my last example.

 

[Daruma]

The answer would be "were."

police - Definition from Longman English Dictionary Online
! Police is a plural noun. Do not say 'a police'. Say a police officer, a policeman, or a policewoman: The police were called. | A police officer came.