You remember the Police, don’t you? We’re talking the ’80s rock band – not those folks with the badges and guns.

Well, the band’s back. Sort of. 

On Oct. 5, the hit-making super group’s drummer Stewart Copeland will lead a contingent of three singers and two instrumentalists to team with the Colorado Symphony in Boettcher Hall for a concert of familiar hits that Copeland playfully calls Police Deranged for Orchestra.

“I realize that these songs are ingrained in people’s minds,” Copeland said. “These are those songs, but in new versions – a sort of kaleidoscope.”

He should know – he wrote all the arrangements. Or should we say de-rangements?

“I’ve done a lot of writing for orchestras, including some instrumental settings of Police songs. I messed with them. These are not milquetoast versions.”

The Police disbanded in 1984, pretty much when they were at their peak. Lead singer/composer/bass player Sting went solo, and guitarist Andy Summers recorded a few records and has recently put on shows blending his photography and guitar playing, Copeland reported.

As for the drummer, he’s busied himself over the past 20 years with numerous motion picture scores (“Wall Street,” “Talk Radio,” “Rumble Fish,” etc.) and other projects, including an ongoing series of home movies, capturing life in and out of the recording studio during the Police years.

“I put it together and wrote some Police song arrangements for it and, much to my surprise the film got accepted into Sundance (Film Festival).”

That proved the beginning of what became Police Deranged, an 11-song collection recently released as an album on Kinetic Kollections Overseas.

Copeland agreed that the songs, written by Sting, cry out for settings beyond the original three-man rock band. As a matter of fact, an orchestral program had already been assembled – by Sting.

“He did that years ago,” the drummer recalls. “He hired an orchestrator. But the business model was wrong. When he took it on the road, he hired (a touring) orchestra. Very expensive. I took an arrogant approach. With me, I only need one hotel room.”

Well, he also has to take care of bassist Armand Sabal Lecco (who’s played with Paul Simon), guitarist Rusty Anderson (touring and recording with Paul McCartney since 2001), and vocalists Amy Keys, Carmel Helene, and Ashley Támar.

The Deranged show has been on the road for two years now, with Copeland serving as drummer (of course), as well as chatty host, guitar player (on one song) and even as conductor, waving the baton here and there.

He readily agrees that there’s no substitute for the distinctive vocals of Sting and for the remarkable guitar playing of Summers.

“Andy is a one-man orchestra,” the drummer said. “He goes to ’12,’ ” a reference to Spinal Tap’s amplifier boast of cranking it up to 11.

Summers’ replacement is the Colorado Symphony, Copeland stated matter-of-factly.

“Really, the concert is about the orchestra. I interact with them. I’ll work with the sound man, to make sure the balance is just right. I’ve been around the block with orchestras.”

Demonstrating his knowledge, he pointed to the horn section.

“I’ll be using four saxes there instead of four horns. French horns are great in movie scores, but here, they just don’t cut it.”

Expect all the hits, he promised – although the film score for Sundance did not include “Every Breath You Take.” No way that’s going to be left out.

“I’ll also include some personal favorites, such as “One World (is Enough),” Copeland said.

Yes, he’s mindful of the fact that his fans don’t usually hang out at concert halls like Boettcher, longtime home of the Colorado Symphony.

“Police fans may not be Stravinsky fans. But if I can gain their trust, we’ll be all right. I’m doing this tour to help orchestras. These days, they’re hard to sustain.”

Which leads one to inquire whether a Police sequel might be in the works.

Copeland shied away from that, instead pointing to another bunch of classic songs that interest him.

“I may do ‘Motown Deranged,’” he said. In the meantime, there’s a rather imposing project occupying him in his spare time. “I’m working on (James Joyce’s) ‘Finnegans Wake’ as an oratorio.”

The man is fearless.