Crossword Genius

Boys left with a detective sergeant (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

lads

'boys' is the definition.
(lad is a kind of boy)

'left with a detective sergeant' is the wordplay.
'left' becomes 'l' (common abbreviation).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'detective sergeant' becomes 'DS' (abbreviation for detective sergeant).
'l'+'a'+'ds'='LADS'

(Other definitions for lads that I've seen before include "Fellows, chaps" , "Boys, young fellows" , "Young men" , "Fellows, blokes" , "Youngsters" .)

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