Police forces are government organizations charged with the responsibility of maintaining law and order, and to protect the general public from harm. The word comes from French police, itself from Latin politia ("civil administration"), itself from Ancient Greek πολιτεια, referring to government or administration, from Greek πολις (polis) = "city". The word police was first recorded in the French language in 1250 (in the sense of "administration, political organisation"), but it acquired its modern sense of preservation of law and order only in the 17th century. The police may also be known as a constabulary, after constables, who were an early manifestation of police officers, although the term constable is still in use in some jurisdictions. In North America, typically the legal term for "police officer" is peace officer, although the public typically refers to them as police. Other names include sheriff, marshall and ranger.
A police department is the organisation or commission that is made up of police officers.
In many jurisdictions, police officers carry firearms in the normal course of their duties.
Police often have specialist units for handling armed offenders, and similar dangerous situations, and can often, in extreme circumstances, call on the military, sometimes including Special Forces like the SAS. They can also be equipped with non-lethal (more accurately known as "less than lethal" or "less-lethal") weaponry, particularly for riot control. Non-lethal weapons include batons, shields, riot control agents, rubber bullets and stun guns. The use of firearms or deadly force is typically a last resort only to be used when necessary to save human life, although some jurisdictions allow its use against fleeing felons and escaped convicts. Police officers often carry handcuffs to restrain suspects.
Modern police forces make extensive use of radio communications equipment, carried both on the person and installed in vehicles, to co-ordinate their work, share information, and get help quickly. In recent years, vehicle-installed computers have enhanced the ability of police communications, enabling easier dispatching of calls, criminal background checks on persons of interest to be completed in a matter of seconds, and updating the officer's daily activity log and other required reports on a real-time basis. Other common pieces of police equipment include flashlights, whistles, and, most importantly, notebooks and "ticketbooks" or citations.
In order for police officers to do their job well, they are vested by the state with a monopoly in the use of certain powers. These include the powers to arrest, search, seize, and interrogate; and if necessary, to use lethal force. In nations with democratic systems and the rule of law, the law of criminal procedure has been developed to regulate officers' discretion, so that they do not exercise their vast powers arbitrarily or unjustly.
In U.S. criminal procedure, the most famous case is Miranda v. Arizona which led to the widespread use of Miranda warnings or constitutional warnings. U.S. police are also prohibited from holding criminal suspects for more than a reasonable amount of time (usually 72 hours) before arraignment, using torture to extract confessions, using excessive force to effect an arrest, and searching suspects' bodies or their homes without a warrant obtained upon a showing of probable cause. Using deception for confessions is permitted but not coerction. There are exceptions or exigent circumstances such as an articulated need to disarm a suspect or searching a suspect who has already been arrested (Search Incident to an Arrest). The Posse Comitatus Act prevents the use of the U.S. military for police activity, giving added importance to police SWAT units.
British police officers are governed by similar rules, particularly those introduced under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, but generally have greater powers. They may, for example, legally search any suspect who has been arrested, or their vehicles, home or business premises, without a warrant, and may seize anything they find in a search as evidence. All police officers in the United Kingdom, whatever their actual rank, are 'constables' in terms of their legal position. This means that a newly appointed constable has the same arrest powers as a Chief Constable or Commissioner. However certain higher ranks have additional powers to authorize certain aspects of police operations, such as a power to authorize a search of a suspects house (section
2006-07-17 05:13:40
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answer #1
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answered by ii_classy_ii 2
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I'm not qualified but. I believe our police force are to be protectors, not people to fear. There job has become a never ending story. By now our old guys should be able to enjoy a peaceful retirement. And hand over wisdom without concern. It's only gotten worse. Why should our protectors be unprotected when all they've done was good. It's not their fault that things are getting more dangerous. Now even them we cannot trust. I was born and raised in a so called bad area, but nothing compares to what it's become. It's not my police force that has screwed up and failed us. It's..... well..... not them. Not the police that looked out for me as a kid anyways. What and who has made this mess I have to call home. Is it me? or you? or ...who?
2016-03-16 22:22:46
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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The governmental department charged with the regulation and control of the affairs of a community, now chiefly the department established to maintain order, enforce the law, and prevent and detect crime.
A body of persons making up such a department, trained in methods of law enforcement and crime prevention and detection and authorized to maintain the peace, safety, and order of the community.
A body of persons having similar organization and function: campus police. Also called police force.
(used with a pl. verb) Police officers considered as a group.
Regulation and control of the affairs of a community, especially with respect to maintenance of order, law, health, morals, safety, and other matters affecting the public welfare.
Informal. A group that admonishes, cautions, or reminds: grammar police; fashion police.
The cleaning of a military base or other military area: Police of the barracks must be completed before inspection.
The soldiers assigned to a specified maintenance duty.
2006-07-17 15:39:44
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answer #5
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answered by RKF 2
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