noun
police baton; truncheon; billy club
Refers specifically to the baton carried by police officers. The word is neutral and commonly used in news reports.
警官が警棒を手に取った。
The police officer picked up the baton.
デモ隊に向かって警棒を構えた。
They raised their batons toward the demonstrators.
A special extendable baton used by police; 警棒 is the general term.
Compound of 警 (けい, 'police') and 棒 (ぼう, 'stick, rod'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word is a straightforward modern compound.