Police are constituted bodies of people empowered by a state to maintain public order and safety and protect property, persons, and their possessions within a defined legal or territorial area. They exercise the law-enforcement power of the state using force legitimized by the state’s monopoly on violence. Police are also referred to as law enforcement officers, peace officers, or constabulary.
A police force is usually composed of sworn officers and civilians who help with patrol and other non-detection tasks. They are trained to observe and report suspicious activities to their superiors for investigation or action. They patrol an assigned area on foot, bicycle or police car, investigating and observing criminal activity as well as traffic violations; enforce state laws and local regulations; and assist citizens with problems.
The police are often divided into departments and bureaus for enforcement, investigations, and administration. They may be further subdivided into specialized units for crime prevention, K9/use of police dogs, crash investigation, homicide, or fraud; or situations requiring a higher level of specialized skills, such as underwater search and rescue, aviation, bomb squad (“bomb squad”), computer crime and counterterrorism.
The police are a highly visible and public service organization in many countries. They often interact with their communities in informal settings such as neighborhood associations, schools, and churches. They are frequently accused of racial bias, mistreatment of suspects, and excessive use of force. Many police departments have implemented reforms such as community policing to try to improve relations with the community and redress concerns.
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