| Police forces are government organizations | | | | of such investigations and of suspected criminals |
| charged with the responsibility of taking care of | | | | to the courts also forms an important function. |
| law and order, and safeguarding the life and | | | | Duty of a police officer includes protection of life |
| interests of the general public from harm. The | | | | and property. It also includes prevention of crime |
| term "police" was coined originally in France in the | | | | and detection and arrest of criminals. Apart from |
| 18th century. The police are also often known as | | | | this, they are also required to enforce all laws, |
| a constabulary. This term was derived from | | | | decrees and provisions of the administrative code |
| constables, who were an early form of police | | | | over which the police department has |
| officers. A police officer only refers to those | | | | jurisdiction.In the United States, there are |
| people who have been sworn in as law | | | | compound levels of policing and law enforcement |
| enforcement officers by way of oath. It does not | | | | services. This refers to the federal police, state |
| include civilian support staff that may be | | | | police (often known as state troopers or highway |
| uniformed but have certain restricted | | | | patrol officers) and county police (known as |
| enforcement powers.In the United States, policing | | | | sheriffs, constables, metropolitan police, and some |
| and law enforcement form a single entity known | | | | county police agencies). Along with this there also |
| as the Criminal Justice System, the others being | | | | include special-purpose district police (parks, |
| the judiciary and corrections. Theoretically, each | | | | schools, housing, transit, etc), and local police. |
| arm is independent in function and objectives | | | | There are roughly 18,000 independent police |
| from the others, although the judicial courts have | | | | agencies.Police provides detailed information on |
| legal oversight of both. Along with maintaining law | | | | Police, Police Departments, Police Equipment, Police |
| and order and other service functions, the | | | | Stations and more. Police is affiliated with Free |
| purpose of policing also refers to the investigation | | | | Public Record Searches. |
| of suspected criminal activity. Referring the results | | | | |