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| [[File:Police.three.on.patrol.london.arp.jpg|thumb|right|250px|{{Center|[[United Kingdom|British]] police officers in [[London]].}}]]
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| '''Police''' are a group of people whose job it is to [[wikt:enforce|enforce]] [[law]]s, help with [[Emergency|emergencies]], solve [[crime]]s and [[protection|protect]] property. A person who carries out this duty is known as a '''police officer'''. They work out of a police station. Police are trained in [[first aid]] and [[wikt:rescue|rescue]], because police officers are often one of the first people to get to a place where people are [[illness|sick]] or [[injury|injured]], such as a [[car]] [[accident]], or a [[fire]]. | | | name = Police Officer |
| | | image = Police_officer.jpg |
| | | caption = A police officer in uniform |
| | | type = Law enforcement |
| | | activity_sector = Public safety |
| | | competencies = Physical fitness, communication skills, critical thinking |
| | | formation = Police academy training |
| | | employment_field = Law enforcement agencies |
| | | related_occupation = [[Detective]], [[Security guard]] |
| | }} |
| | The term '''police''' refers to a body of officers representing the civil authority of government. Police are responsible for maintaining public order and safety, enforcing the law, and preventing, detecting, and investigating criminal activities. They are a crucial component of the criminal justice system. |
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| ==Naming== | | == History == |
| A police agency may be called a ''police force'', ''police department'', ''police service'', ''constabulary'', ''civil guard'' or ''protective service''. A ''[[gendarmerie]]'' is a police force that is part of the [[military]], although its members rarely do actual military work.
| | The concept of policing has existed for centuries, with early forms of law enforcement dating back to ancient civilizations. The modern police force, as we know it today, began to take shape in the 19th century. The first organized police force was established in [[London]] in 1829 by [[Sir Robert Peel]], known as the Metropolitan Police Service. |
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| Most police forces in the [[United States]] name themselves as "[Place] Police Department", such as [[New York City Police Department]]. State police forces are usually known as either "[State] Highway Patrol" or "[State] State Police". In the [[United Kingdom]], most are "[Place] Police" or "[Place] Constabulary". In [[Canada]] and other English-speaking countries, "[Place] Police Service" is common. Ireland's police are called the [[Garda Síochána]].
| | == Roles and Responsibilities == |
| | Police officers have a wide range of duties, which can vary depending on their specific role and the jurisdiction in which they operate. Common responsibilities include: |
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| A ''law enforcement agency'' is any agency that enforces the law. In the United States, there are some law enforcement agencies that are not called police forces but carry out similar work, such as the [[Federal Bureau of Investigations]]. One common type is a ''sheriff's office'' (also ''sheriff's department''), an agency that is led by a ''[[sheriff]]''.
| | * '''Patrolling''': Officers patrol neighborhoods to deter and detect crime. |
| | * '''Responding to emergencies''': Police respond to emergency calls and provide assistance. |
| | * '''Investigating crimes''': Detectives and officers gather evidence and interview witnesses. |
| | * '''Arresting suspects''': Officers have the authority to arrest individuals suspected of committing crimes. |
| | * '''Community engagement''': Building relationships with community members to foster trust and cooperation. |
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| Those who carry out policing duties are known as ''police officers''. They may also be known as ''policemen'' (men only), ''policewomen'' (women only), ''peace officers'', ''constables'', ''rangers'' or ''civil guards''. In a sheriff's office, they are known as ''sheriff's deputies'' or ''deputies'' for short. In Ireland they are known by the [[Irish language]] word ''gardaí'' (''garda'' if singular) or as ''guards''.
| | == Types of Police == |
| | There are several types of police forces, each with specific functions: |
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| ==Powers==
| | * '''Municipal Police''': Local police departments that serve cities and towns. |
| The police have different powers to help them do their [[job]]. These powers are different in different [[Country|countries]]. Most police officers have the power to [[arrest]] people, search people, and search [[house]]s/properties. They sometimes carry [[wikt:equipment|equipment]] such as [[gun]]s, [[baton]]s, [[taser]]s, or [[pepper spray]]. The area where police officers can use these powers is called their [[jurisdiction]]. If officers are outside of their jurisdiction, another police force with jurisdiction can then use their powers.
| | * '''County Police''': Law enforcement agencies that operate at the county level. |
| | * '''State Police''': Agencies that provide statewide law enforcement services. |
| | * '''Federal Police''': National agencies, such as the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI), that handle federal law enforcement. |
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| ==Duties== | | == Training and Education == |
| The police deal with:
| | Police officers typically undergo rigorous training at a police academy. Training includes: |
| * Preventing crime and protecting the public. They do this by [[patrol]]ling on foot in [[uniform]] and in police cars. This can stop some forms of [[crime|criminal behavior]].
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| * Responding to crimes. When someone calls the police to say that a crime is happening, they must send some police officers to arrive at the scene very quickly. They will try to stop the crime and catch the person doing it.
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| * Investigating crime. This means that the police try to find out who did the crime.
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| * Arresting and detaining suspects. When the police believe that someone has committed a crime, the police [[arrest]] them, take them to the police station and ask them questions. However, it is the [[prosecutor]]s and not the police who have the final say on whether a suspect gets charged.
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| * To help with emergencies or problems that are not crimes. This may be car accidents, fires, or people who are sick, hurt or lost. The police work with [[firefighter]]s, [[ambulance]]s, and rescuers. They might direct [[traffic]], help lost children, or give traffic [[citation|ticket]]s.
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| ==Parts of police departments==
| | * '''Physical fitness''': Officers must meet physical fitness standards. |
| Most police departments have officers in two main groups: a "patrol" group with officers who wear uniforms, and a "detective" group with officers who wear normal clothing.
| | * '''Legal education''': Understanding laws and legal procedures. |
| | * '''Firearms training''': Safe handling and use of firearms. |
| | * '''Conflict resolution''': Techniques for de-escalating situations. |
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| *Patrol officers travel through their area. They may travel by foot, on bicycle or motorcycle, or in marked cars. The cars have warning lights and sirens that can be used. The sirens make a loud sound. Patrol officers enforce [[motor vehicle]] and [[crime|criminal]] laws. In some locations patrol officers manage the local [[jail]].
| | == Challenges and Controversies == |
| *Detectives work on [[investigation]]s that are more complex. They try to find [[fraud]], [[illegal drug]]s, and [[Sexual intercourse|sex]] crimes like [[prostitution]], [[human trafficking]], and [[rape]]. Prostitution is not a crime in all countries.
| | Policing is a challenging profession that faces several controversies, including: |
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| Not all countries use the same words to describe these groups. In the [[United Kingdom]], for example, patrol officers form the "uniform branch", while detectives work within the CID ("Criminal Investigation Department").
| | * '''Use of force''': Debates over appropriate levels of force. |
| | * '''Racial profiling''': Concerns about biased policing practices. |
| | * '''Accountability''': Ensuring officers are held accountable for misconduct. |
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| Police uniforms, equipment and methods vary depending on the country. In some places, groups of police train for special jobs such as dealing with [[riot]]s or dealing with highly dangerous criminals. | | == Conclusion == |
| | Police play a vital role in maintaining law and order in society. While they face numerous challenges, their work is essential for ensuring public safety and justice. |
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| [[File:Police Poland 2 AB.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A [[Poland|Polish]] police officer with some of his equipment]]
| | == See Also == |
| ==Police in different countries== | | * [[Law enforcement agency]] |
| Different countries have different ways of organizing their police. Some countries like [[South Africa]], [[Ireland]] and [[New Zealand]] have just one police force. Other countries have more than one. [[France]] has two police forces, one for cities and another for rural areas. [[Chile]] also has two, one for patrol and another for investigations.
| | * [[Criminal justice system]] |
| | | * [[Public safety]] |
| Some countries have two or more levels of police forces. For example, most policing in [[Australia]] is carried out by the six state police forces, but there is also the Australian Federal Police who police the whole country. [[Germany]] has a similar system. The [[United Kingdom]] and [[Switzerland]] have many local police forces and several national agencies, but no actual national police force. In [[Canada]], local governments can choose to either run their own police force or give the job to a bigger one. So most Canadian cities have their own police, while most rural areas are policed by the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]], which is also the national police.
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| The [[United States]] has over 17,000 law enforcement agencies. Many areas have four levels of law enforcement agencies. For example, [[Los Angeles]] has the [[Los Angeles Police Department]] but there are many other agencies that can work in the city. This includes the county-level Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, the state-level California Highway Patrol and over 100 federal (or national) law enforcement agencies.
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| Worldwide, police are a small percentage of the number of people they serve. On [[average]] there are 303.3 police officers per 100,000 people.<ref>''International Statistics on Crime and Justice'', eds. S. Harrendorf; M. Heiskanen; S. Malby (Helsinki, European Institute for United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), 2010), p. 115</ref>
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| [[File:Picassoz03x.JPG|thumb|A [[Spain|Spanish]] police car]]
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| ==Equipment==
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| In most countries, police officers carry [[gun]]s during their normal duties. In the United Kingdom, [[New Zealand]], [[Ireland]] and a few other countries, most police officers do not carry guns.
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| Officers communicate using [[radio]] devices. The radios can be on both the uniform and in the patrol vehicle.
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| ==Related pages==
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| *[[Police officer]] | |
| *[[SWAT team]] | |
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| == References == | | == References == |
| {{commons|Police}}
| | * "History of Policing." Encyclopedia of Law Enforcement. |
| {{reflist}}
| | * "Police Training and Education." Journal of Law and Society. |
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| ==Other websites== | | == External Links == |
| *[https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&id=DE7BC0F0CEB5A7853B764CB070B86E30C61F3896&thid=OIP.dq1jKacI5GldECE8y1qCsQHaHu&mediaurl=https%3A%2F%2Fs-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com%2F236x%2F73%2F90%2Fe5%2F7390e5bcc098f135c8e22d395f4e4ab2.jpg&exph=246&expw=236&q=1840+Police&selectedindex=0&ajaxhist=0&vt=0&eim=0,1,2,6&ccid=dq1jKacI&simid=608010331030032091 1860-1870 picture of San Fransico Police man] | | * [https://www.theiacp.org/ International Association of Chiefs of Police] |
| *[http://www.photohistoryofpolice.com/ Police History book ] | | * [https://www.policefoundation.org/ National Police Foundation] |
| *[https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=jim+casey+police+collectables&qpvt=Jim+Casey+Police+Collectables&FORM=IGRE Police Pictures links]
| | {{Law enforcement}} |
| {{adapted}} | | {{nt}} |
| [[Category:Law]] | | [[Category:Law enforcement]] |
| [[Category:Emergency services]] | | [[Category:Public safety]] |
| [[Category:Police| ]] | | [[Category:Criminal justice]] |
A police officer in uniform
| Occupation |
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| Names | |
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| Pronunciation | |
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Occupation type | Law enforcement |
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Activity sectors | Public safety |
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| Specialty | |
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| Competencies | Physical fitness, communication skills, critical thinking |
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Education required | Police academy training |
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The term police refers to a body of officers representing the civil authority of government. Police are responsible for maintaining public order and safety, enforcing the law, and preventing, detecting, and investigating criminal activities. They are a crucial component of the criminal justice system.
History[edit]
The concept of policing has existed for centuries, with early forms of law enforcement dating back to ancient civilizations. The modern police force, as we know it today, began to take shape in the 19th century. The first organized police force was established in London in 1829 by Sir Robert Peel, known as the Metropolitan Police Service.
Roles and Responsibilities[edit]
Police officers have a wide range of duties, which can vary depending on their specific role and the jurisdiction in which they operate. Common responsibilities include:
- Patrolling: Officers patrol neighborhoods to deter and detect crime.
- Responding to emergencies: Police respond to emergency calls and provide assistance.
- Investigating crimes: Detectives and officers gather evidence and interview witnesses.
- Arresting suspects: Officers have the authority to arrest individuals suspected of committing crimes.
- Community engagement: Building relationships with community members to foster trust and cooperation.
Types of Police[edit]
There are several types of police forces, each with specific functions:
- Municipal Police: Local police departments that serve cities and towns.
- County Police: Law enforcement agencies that operate at the county level.
- State Police: Agencies that provide statewide law enforcement services.
- Federal Police: National agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), that handle federal law enforcement.
Training and Education[edit]
Police officers typically undergo rigorous training at a police academy. Training includes:
- Physical fitness: Officers must meet physical fitness standards.
- Legal education: Understanding laws and legal procedures.
- Firearms training: Safe handling and use of firearms.
- Conflict resolution: Techniques for de-escalating situations.
Challenges and Controversies[edit]
Policing is a challenging profession that faces several controversies, including:
- Use of force: Debates over appropriate levels of force.
- Racial profiling: Concerns about biased policing practices.
- Accountability: Ensuring officers are held accountable for misconduct.
Conclusion[edit]
Police play a vital role in maintaining law and order in society. While they face numerous challenges, their work is essential for ensuring public safety and justice.
See Also[edit]
References[edit]
- "History of Policing." Encyclopedia of Law Enforcement.
- "Police Training and Education." Journal of Law and Society.
External Links[edit]
