Who is “the fuzz” in The Outsiders?

"The fuzz” refers to the police. The greasers use this slang term to describe law enforcement officers, usually in a casual or slightly mocking way. Characters like Dally, who has a criminal record and frequent trouble with the law, are especially wary of “the fuzz.” For example, after Johnny kills Bob, Dally helps Ponyboy and Johnny hide because he knows the police will be looking for them, and later the police chase and confront Dally when he runs from them after robbing a store.

Calling the police “the fuzz” reflects the greasers’ outsider status. They see authority figures as people to avoid rather than trust, which ties into the larger divide between their world and mainstream society.