Mr. Monk and the Bracketing Paradox

Last week's episode of Monk had the perfect example of a compound word bracketing paradox.

In the episode, Lieutenant Disher is interviewing the cousin of a suspect.

Disher: "Your cousin is a former cop killer."

Interviewee: "You mean he used to kill cops?"

Disher: "No he tried to kill a former cop."

[[former] [cop killer]]

[[former cop][killer]]