"Not when I don't know them," Rutile explains, feeling vaguely like they're speaking to a junior. Shouldn't that be natural? "I haven't given them any authority over me."

Police is a word Rutile knows - you could refer to their own patrols as police, if you wanted to - but they would never behave in such an uncouth manner.

"You seem to know them well," they warily suggest. Chase's actions are still a little confusing to them: they're grateful for the help, of course, but not sure of the motivation.