Police are a group of people constituted by a state with the power to enforce the law and protect the public order. They exercise a coercive authority legitimized by the state through its monopoly on violence to ensure the safety of persons and property as well as to prevent crime and civil disorder. There is considerable historical, geographic and organizational diversity in the activities of police forces around the world.
Patrols assigned area on foot or in automobile; answers calls for service, protection of life and property; investigates disturbances, prowlers, burglaries, thefts, holdups, vehicle accidents, deaths and other criminal incidents. Reroutes or moves traffic as needed at accident scenes; tests drivers for intoxication; marks, sketches and collects evidence at crime scene; testifies in court and prepares reports.
In addition to regular police officers, most large police departments employ specialized detective and investigative units with a focus on certain types of crimes or situations that require specialized skills, such as underwater search and rescue, aviation, K9/use of dogs, and crash investigation. These units may be staffed with uniformed or plainclothes personnel. Many police officers work undercover, concealing their identity to infiltrate and identify organized crime groups and other nefarious activities that cannot be detected by regular patrols or investigations. The nature of police work is inherently stressful, and officers may face physical threats and make split-second decisions that could have serious consequences. Some police officers are prone to mental and emotional burnout, a condition that can be mitigated by training, supervision and community outreach programs.
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