Police have been branded as crime-fighters as how it was conveyed to American people via newspaper articles, comic strips and TV dramas. This is conjuring an image that a police officer is doing seriously dangerous jobs that demand the officer to outpunch, outshoot and also, outwit criminals. However, for majority of the American policy, there’s a correspondence between what is real and what is myth.
In major cities in which crimes are at its high, half of the police officers in local department will not be making arrest throughout a year.
So what Officers Do?
As a matter of fact, aside from fighting crimes, police officers have three major functions. Despite the fact that we are referring to police as law enforcement official, the enforcement of criminal law is just among the many functions that they perform. The functions of American police also include maintaining order, controlling crime and providing basic social services.
Social Service
In this particular function, the police is helping people who are in need of emergency assistance whether it’s finding lost children or giving first aid.
Normally, over 50% of phone calls to police is related to requesting assistance that involves social service than actual crimes.
Maintaining Order
Regarding this function, this typically involves traffic control, resolving domestic disputes, crowd control and moving prostitutes from streets. At times, they even serve as mediator between businesses like شركة نظافة بجده and individuals to settle whatever the issue is.
Regardless, the focus of this function is to handle the situation and preserve peace instead of enforcing the law. Appropriate order-maintenance solution might be on making arrest but it usually consists of less formal action.
Crime Control
On the subject of crime control, police officers are engaging in wide range of activities similar to criminal investigation as well as patrolling.
Primary Responsibilities
There are a number of major responsibilities that police officers have to enact and these include but not limited to the following:
- Identifying criminal activities and offenders
- Reducing opportunities for commission of crimes via preventive patrol and several other measures
- Help people who are in physical danger
- Protecting constitutional guarantees
- Facilitating movement of vehicles and people
- Resolving conflict