Police officer

Police officer

A police officer, also known as an officer, policeman, or a policewoman is a warranted law employee of a police force. Police officers are generally charged with the apprehension of suspects and the prevention, detection, and reporting of crime. 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.

About Police officer in brief

Summary Police officerA police officer, also known as an officer, policeman, or a policewoman is a warranted law employee of a police force. Police officers are generally charged with the apprehension of suspects and the prevention, detection, and reporting of crime. Some officers are trained in special duties, such as counter-terrorism, surveillance, child protection, VIP protection, civil law enforcement, and investigation techniques into major crime including fraud, rape, murder, and drug trafficking. In most countries police officers are given exemptions from certain laws to perform their duties. 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 are often used as an emergency service and may provide a public safety function at large gatherings. To provide a prompt response in emergencies, the police often coordinate their operations with fire and emergency medical services. In many countries, there is a common emergency service number that allows the police, firefighters, or medical services to be summoned to an emergency.

The word ‘police’ comes from the Greek politeia, meaning government, which came to mean its civil administration. The more general term for the function is law enforcement officer or peace officer. A person who has been deputized to serve the function of the sheriff is referred to as the deputy. In the majority of Western legal systems, the major role of the police is to maintain order, keeping the peace through surveillance of the public, and the subsequent reporting and apprehension of suspected violators of the law. They also function to discourage crimes through high-visibility policing, and most police forces have an investigative capability. Police have the legal authority to arrest and detain, usually granted by magistrates. Officers are expected to respond to a variety of situations that may arise while they are on duty. Some countries have outlined command procedures, for the use in major emergencies or disorder. Gold Silver Bronze commanders would be positioned on the ground, coordinating the ground-based officers and the control room.