Police
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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A police force is a constituted body of persons empowered by the state to enforce the law, protect property, and limit civil disorder.
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Etymology
From Latin politia (“state, government”), from Ancient Greek πολιτεία (politeía).
Police officer
A police officer (also known as a policeman or policewoman and sometimes constable, particularly in Australia) is a warranted employee of a police force. Police officers are generally responsible for apprehending criminals, maintaining public order, and preventing and detecting crime. Police officers are sworn to an oath, and are granted the power to arrest and imprison suspects, along with other practices.
Some police officers may also be trained in special duties such as; counter-terrorism, surveillance, child protection, VIP protection, and investigation techniques into major crime, such as fraud, rape, murder or drug trafficking.
History
Work as a police officer
Responsibilities of a police officer are broad, changing from country to country. Common responsibilities include keeping of the peace, enforcement of the law, protection of the public and property, and the investigation of crimes. Officers are expected to be able to respond to a variety of situations that may arise while they are on duty. Rules and guidelines dictate how an officer should act towards the public and in the community, and some countries have restrictions placed on what the uniform officer wears. In some countries, rules and procedures dictate that a police officer is obliged to intervene in a criminal incident, even if they are off-duty. Police officers in nearly all countries retain their lawful powers, while off duty.
See also
- Chief of police
- Constable
- Criminal citation
- Criminal justice
- Fraternal Order of Police
- Highway Patrol
- Law enforcement agency
- Law enforcement and society
- Law enforcement by country
- Militsiya
- Police academy
- Police brutality
- Police certificate
- Police science
- Police state
- Police training officer
- Private police
- Public administration
- Public Security
- Riot police
- Sheriff
- State Police
- The Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc
- Women in law enforcement
- Lists
- List of basic law enforcement topics
- List of countries by size of police forces
- List of law enforcement agencies
- List of protective service agencies
- Police rank
