Palpatine's Secret Police

A phrase common during the Clone Wars amongst Republic and Confederacy citizens alike, "Palpatine's Secret Police" refered negatively to the Jedi Knights.

The phrase has its origins in the public reaction to the Jedi Order's grudging decision to lead the Grand Army of the Republic after the Battle of Geonosis in 22 BBY. As the Jedi appeared to become more influential and more internally conservative, the phrase increased in popularity. A final push into the public conscious was secured when Jedi that refused to serve began to refer to their former comrades as "Palpatine's Secret Police."

It is unknown, but likely, that the phrase was promoted, if not introduced, secretly by Palpatine to make his planned extermination of the Jedi Order more acceptable to the galactic citizenry.