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{{short description|Warranted employee of a police force}}
{{about||the 1992 film|Police Officer (film)|the 2002 film|Police Officers (film)}}
{{redirect|Policeman}}
{{pp-pc|small=yes}}
{{more citations needed|date=July 2009}}
{{Infobox Occupation
| name= Police officer
|synonyms= policeman (<small>{{abbr|PL:|plural}}</small> policemen)<br>{{nowrap|policewoman (<small>{{abbr|PL:|plural}}</small> policewomen)}}
| image= Very friendly MPS officers in London.jpg
| caption= [[Metropolitan Police]] officers in [[London]]
| official_names= 
| type= 
| activity_sector= [[Law enforcement agency|Law enforcement]]
[[public safety]],
[[civil service]],
[[public service]],
rescue,
protection of private property
| formation= Secondary or tertiary education
| employment_field= Public areas
| related_occupation= [[gendarmerie]], [[military police]], [[security guard]], [[bodyguard]], [[detective]], [[immigration officer]]
}}

A '''police officer''' (also called '''policeman''' or '''policewoman''', cop, [[officer]] or [[constable]]) is a [[Warrant (law)|warranted]] law employee of a [[police|police force]]. In most countries, ''police officer'' is a generic term not specifying a particular rank. In some, the use of the rank ''[[officer]]'' is legally reserved for [[military]] personnel.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rfletcher |title=Understanding the Roles of Military Officers and Enlisted Service Members |url=https://www.militaryonesource.mil/military-basics/new-to-the-military/military-officer-and-enlisted-service-members-roles/ |website=Military OneSource |access-date=6 April 2024}}</ref>

Police officers are generally charged with the apprehension of [[Suspect|suspects]] and the prevention, detection, and reporting of [[crime]], protection and assistance of the general public, and the [[Public order policing|maintenance of public order]]. Police officers may be sworn to an [[Police oath|oath]], and have the power to [[arrest]] people and [[Detention (imprisonment)|detain]] them for a limited time, along with other duties and powers. Some officers are trained in special duties, such as [[counter-terrorism]], [[surveillance]], [[child protection]], [[Very Important Person|VIP]] [[Protective security units|protection]], [[Civil law (common law)|civil law enforcement]], and [[Criminal investigation|investigation]] techniques into major crime including [[fraud]], [[rape]], [[murder]], and [[drug trafficking]]. Although many police officers wear a corresponding uniform, some police officers are plain-clothed in order to pass themselves off as members of the public. In most countries police officers are given exemptions from certain laws to perform their duties. For example, an officer may use force if necessary to arrest or detain a person when it would ordinarily be assault. In some countries, officers can also violate [[traffic laws]] to perform their duties.<ref>{{cite book|author=Dulaney, W. Marvin |title=Black Police in America|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yaseH2ICEX4C|year=1996|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=0-253-21040-2|page=21}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
The word "police" comes from the Greek {{lang|el|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 [[sheriff]] is typically the top police officer of a county, with that word coming from the person enforcing law over a [[shire]]. A person who has been deputized to serve the function of the sheriff is referred to as the deputy.{{fact|date=October 2023}}

Police officers are those empowered by government to enforce the laws it creates. In ''[[The Federalist]]'' collection of articles and essays, [[James Madison]] wrote: "[[:s:The Federalist (Dawson)/50|If men were angels, no Government would be necessary]]". These words apply to those who serve government, including police. {{anchor|cop}}A common nickname for a police officer is "cop"; derived from the verb sense "to arrest", itself derived from "to grab". Thus, "someone who captures", a "copper", was shortened to just "cop".<ref>{{cite book|last = Dalzell|first = T.|date = 2007|title = Concise New Partridge Dictionary of Slang|title-link = A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English|location = New York|publisher = [[Routledge]]|page = 162|isbn = 9780415212595}}</ref> It may also find its origin in the Latin {{lang|la|capere}}, brought to English via the [[Old French]] {{lang|fr|caper}}.<ref>{{cite book|last = Partridge|first = E.|author-link = Eric Partridge|date = 1972|title = A Dictionary of Historical Slang |location = London|publisher = [[Penguin Books|Penguin]]|isbn = 9780140510461|url-access = registration|url = https://archive.org/details/lenglish00eric}}</ref>

==Duties and functions==
[[File:2021-09-08 Hokkaido Prefectural Police officers in Ashibetsu city (北海道警警察官による巡回連絡)S0158477.jpg|thumb|A [[Hokkaido]] [[Prefectural police|Prefectural Police]] officer conducting a routine inspection in [[Ashibetsu]].]]
The responsibilities of a police officer are varied, and may differ greatly from within one political context to another. Typical duties relate to keeping the peace, law enforcement, protection of people and property and the investigation of crimes. Officers are expected to respond to a variety of situations that may arise while they are on duty. Rules and guidelines dictate how an officer should behave within the community, and in many contexts, restrictions are placed on what the uniformed officer may wear. In some countries, [[rule making|rules and procedures]] dictate that a police officer is obliged to intervene in a criminal incident, even when off-duty. Police officers in nearly all countries retain their lawful powers while off duty.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://education-portal.com/articles/Police_Officer_Educational_Requirements_for_Police_Officers.html |title=Educational Requirements for Police Officers |work=education-portal.com |year=2011 |access-date=June 24, 2011}}</ref>

In the majority of [[Western world|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 [[Deterrence (psychology)|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. Police officers also respond to [[Call for service|calls for service]], along with routine [[community policing]].{{fact|date=October 2023}}

Police are often used as an [[emergency service]] and may provide a [[Public order policing|public safety function at large gatherings]], as well as in [[Emergency|emergencies]], [[Emergency preparedness|disasters]], [[search and rescue]] operations, and [[Traffic collision|traffic collisions]]. To provide a prompt response in emergencies, the police often coordinate their operations with [[Fire department|fire]] and [[emergency medical services]]. In some countries, individuals serve jointly as police officers as well as [[firefighter]]s (creating the role of [[fire police]]). In many countries, there is a common [[emergency telephone number]] that allows the police, firefighters, or medical services to be summoned to an emergency. Some countries, such as the [[United Kingdom]], have introduced command procedures for use in major emergencies or disorder. In the UK, The [[Gold Silver Bronze command structure]] is a system set up to improve communications between ground-based officers and the control room. Typically, a Bronze Commander would be a senior officer on the ground, coordinating the efforts in the center of the emergency, Silver Commanders would be positioned in an 'Incident Control Room' erected to improve better communications at the scene, and a Gold Commander would be in overall command in the Control Room.{{fact|date=October 2023}}

[[File:Accident involving a high lorry and a low bridge - geograph.org.uk - 658054.jpg|thumb|[[Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary]] officers guarding the scene of a [[traffic collision]] involving a [[lorry]] and a bridge.]]
Police are also responsible for reprimanding minor offenders by issuing [[summons|citations]] which typically may result in the imposition of [[Fine (penalty)|fines]], particularly for violations of [[traffic]] law. Traffic enforcement is often, but not always, accomplished by police officers on [[Police motorcycle|police motorcycles]]—called ''motor officers,'' these officers refer to the [[Motorcycle|motorcycles]] they ride on duty as simply ''motors.'' Police are also trained to assist persons in distress, such as motorists whose cars have broken down and people experiencing a medical emergency. Police are typically trained in basic [[first aid]] such as [[CPR]].{{fact|date=October 2023}}

Some [[park ranger]]s are commissioned as law enforcement officers and carry out a law-enforcement role within [[national park]]s and other back-country wilderness and recreational areas, whereas [[military police]] perform law enforcement functions within the military.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebalancecareers.com/military-police-job-information-974494|title=What to Know About Being a Military Police Officer|access-date=2020-12-06|archive-date=2022-05-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527033404/https://www.thebalancecareers.com/military-police-job-information-974494|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Entry and promotion qualifications==
[[File:Somali Police Cadets Graduation 02.jpg|thumb|[[Somali Police Force]] [[Police cadet|cadets]] during a graduation ceremony at a [[police academy]] in [[Mogadishu]].]]
In most countries, candidates for the police force must have completed some formal education.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://study.com/requirements_to_become_a_police_officer.html|title=Requirements to Become a Police Officer}}</ref> Increasing numbers of people joining the police possess [[tertiary education]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://learn.org/articles/What_is_Tertiary_Education.html|title=What Is Tertiary Education?}}</ref> qualifications and in response to this, many police forces have developed a "fast-track" scheme whereby those with [[university degree]]s spend two to three years as a [[constable]] before receiving promotion to higher ranks, such as [[sergeant]]s or [[inspector]]s. (Officers who work within investigative divisions or plainclothes are not necessarily of a higher rank but merely have different duties.){{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} Police officers are also recruited from those with experience in the military or security services. In the United States, [[U.S. state|state]] laws may [[Codification (law)|codify]] statewide qualification standards regarding age, education, criminal record, and training, but in other countries requirements are set by local police agencies. Generally, each police agency has different requirements. 
Promotion is not automatic and usually requires the candidate to pass some kind of examination, interview board or other selection procedure. Although promotion normally includes an increase in [[salary]], it also brings with it an increase in responsibility and for most, an increase in administrative paperwork. There is no stigma in shunning promotion, as experienced line patrol officers are highly regarded.{{fact|date=October 2023}}

Dependent upon each agency, but generally after completing two years of service, officers may apply for specialist positions, such as [[detective]], [[police dog]] handler, [[mounted police]] officer, [[Police motorcycle|motorcycle]] officer, [[water police]] officer, or [[Authorised firearms officer|firearms officer]] (in countries where police are not routinely armed).{{fact|date=October 2023}}

In some countries, including [[Singapore]], police ranks are supplemented through [[conscription]], similar to [[national service]] in the military. Qualifications may thus be relaxed or enhanced depending on the target mix of conscripts. Conscripts face tougher physical requirements in areas such as eyesight, but minimum academic qualification requirements are less stringent. Some join as volunteers, again via differing qualification requirements.{{fact|date=October 2023}}

==Pay==
{{Expand section|date=March 2010}}
[[File:PRESIDENT BIDEN VISIT JERUSALEM.jpg|thumb|[[Israel Police]] officers in [[Jerusalem]]]]
In some societies, police officers are paid relatively well compared to other occupations; their pay depends on what rank they are within their police force and how many years they have served.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.police-information.co.uk/policepay.htm |title=Police Pay |publisher=Police-information.co.uk |access-date=2013-02-06 |archive-date=2019-05-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514175023/https://www.police-information.co.uk/policepay.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the United States, an average patrol officer's salary was $64,610 in 2021.<ref name="BLS 2022">{{cite web |title=Police and Detectives : Occupational Outlook Handbook |website=U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |date=8 September 2022 |url=https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/police-and-detectives.htm#tab-5 |access-date=22 February 2023}}</ref> In London, capital of the UK, a police officer's average basic salary in 2020 was £36,773 per annum.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/london-police-officer-salary-SRCH_IL.0,6_IM1035_KO7,21.htm|title=Salary: Police Officer in London, UK}}</ref> In the Netherlands, the average police officer working on the street is ranked in salary scale 6 to 9, €27,584 to €54,177 gross (€23,805 to €38,037 net) per year. Apart from these scales, there are higher functions which can increase an officer's salary.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nu.nl/werk/6124729/dit-verdient-een-politieagent.html#:~:text=Afhankelijk%20van%20je%20vooropleiding%20kom,de%20cao%20bij%20politievakbond%20ACP. |title = Dit verdient een politieagent |date=2021-03-30 }}</ref>

In some towns of [[Fairfield County, Connecticut]], Police officers have earned $178,000-$312,000 with overtime.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://patch.com/connecticut/fairfield/police-dominate-top-10-in-2010 | title=Police Dominate Top 10 in 2010 | date=15 February 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.trumbulltimes.com/news/article/police-make-19-trumbull-s-top-20-highest-paid-17808265.php | title=Police make up 19 of Trumbull's top 20 highest paid employees | date=March 2023 | access-date=2023-03-06 | archive-date=2024-11-12 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241112180103/https://www.trumbulltimes.com/news/article/police-make-19-trumbull-s-top-20-highest-paid-17808265.php | url-status=dead }}</ref> Similar pay rates have made reports for [[New Jersey]] and [[Oakland, California]] police officers.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nj.com/hudson/2022/01/the-300k-cops-police-in-hudson-county-capitalize-on-overtime-and-off-duty-work.html?outputType=amp | title=The $300K cops: Police in Hudson County capitalize on overtime, off-duty work and other payments | date=21 January 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://journalism.berkeley.edu/projects/dozens-of-oakland-police-officers-earn-six-figure-overtime-payments-busting-city-budget/ | title=Dozens of Oakland police officers earn six-figure overtime payments, busting city budget }}</ref> In 2023, a Senior Deputy with The [[San Francisco Sheriff's Office]] earned a top salary of double those in Connecticut.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/san-francisco/ | title=2011–2023 salaries for San Francisco &#124; Transparent California }}</ref>

== Occupational safety and health ==
{{main article|Police officer safety and health}}
There are numerous concerns affecting the [[Occupational safety and health|safety and health]] of police officers, including [[occupational stress]] and death in the line of duty. On August 6, 2019, [[New Jersey Attorney General]] [[Gurbir Grewal]] announced the creation of the first U.S. state-wide program to support the [[mental health]] of police officers. The goal of the program is to train officers in emotional resiliency and to help destigmatize mental health problems.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/news/2019/08/37-nj-officers-have-killed-themselves-since-2016-ag-hopes-new-plan-will-prevent-suicides.html|title=37 N.J. officers have killed themselves since 2016. AG hopes new plan will prevent suicides.|author=Joe Atmonavage|publisher=NJ Advance Media for NJ.com|date=August 6, 2019|access-date=August 6, 2019|quote='We cannot fully comprehend the emotional and mental stress that our law enforcement officers suffer on a daily basis,' said Grewal during a press conference at the Newark Police Department to announce the New Jersey Resiliency Program for Law Enforcement. 'We owe it to them to not only combat the stigma associated with seeking help, but also give to them the tools they need to deal with the stress and trauma they endure.' The program is the first of its kind in the country, according to the Attorney General’s office.}}</ref>

== Application of force ==
{{stack|[[File:Police arrest a member of the Nordic Resistance Movement.jpg|thumb|[[Swedish Police Authority]] officers arresting a member of the [[Nordic Resistance Movement]] during a [[Neo-Nazism|neo-Nazi]] demonstration in [[Gothenburg]].]]}}

===Individual cases===
{{main|Use of force}}
Almost universally, police officers are authorized to use force, up to and including [[deadly force]], when acting in a law enforcement capacity.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/law/help/police-weapons/comparative-summary.php|title=The Use-of-Force Continuum|date=9 June 2015|website=Library of Congress|access-date=19 May 2017}}</ref> Although most [[law enforcement agencies]] follow some variant of the [[use of force continuum]], where officers are only authorized to use the level of force required to match situational requirements, specific thresholds and responses vary between [[jurisdictions]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nij.gov/topics/law-enforcement/officer-safety/use-of-force/Pages/continuum.aspx|title=The Use-of-Force Continuum|date=4 August 2009|website=National Institute of Justice|access-date=19 May 2017}}</ref> While officers are trained to avoid excessive use of force, and may be held [[Criminal law|legally accountable]] for infractions, the variability of law enforcement and its dependence on [[Decision-making|human judgment]] have made the subject an area of [[Police brutality|controversy]] and research.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://scholar.harvard.edu/fryer/publications/empirical-analysis-racial-differences-police-use-force|title=An Empirical Analysis of Racial Differences in Police Use of Force|author=Fryer, Roland G. Jr.|journal=Journal of Political Economy|date=July 2016|publisher=Harvard University|access-date=19 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wtamu.edu/webres/File/Academics/College%20of%20Education%20and%20Social%20Sciences/Department%20of%20Political%20Science%20and%20Criminal%20Justice/PBJ/2011/2n2_03Wittie.pdf|title=Police Use of Force|author=Wittie, Mark Curtis|year=2011|website=West Texas A&M University|access-date=19 May 2017|archive-date=27 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127134439/http://www.wtamu.edu/webres/File/Academics/College%20of%20Education%20and%20Social%20Sciences/Department%20of%20Political%20Science%20and%20Criminal%20Justice/PBJ/2011/2n2_03Wittie.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Accountability===
{{main|Police accountability|Supervision of police personnel}}
In the performance of their duties, police officers may act unlawfully, either deliberately or as a result of errors in judgment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=tp&tid=84|title=Use of Force|date=19 May 2017|website=Bureau of Justice Statistics|access-date=19 May 2017}}</ref> Police accountability efforts strive to protect citizens and their rights by ensuring legal and effective law enforcement conduct, while affording individual officers the required autonomy, protection, and [[discretion]]. As an example, the use of [[Police body camera|body-worn cameras]] has been shown to reduce both instances of misconduct and complaints against officers.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Taylor|first=E.|year=2016|title=Lights, Camera, Redaction... Police Body-Worn Cameras: Autonomy, Discretion and Accountability|journal=Surveillance & Society|volume=14|pages=131|doi=10.24908/ss.v14i1.6285|doi-access=free|hdl=1885/261975|hdl-access=free}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Peace officer]]
*[[Military police]]
*[[Provost (military police)]]
*[[Field training officer]]
*[[Internal affairs (law enforcement)|Internal affairs]]
*[[Chief of police]]
*[[Police tactical unit]]
*[[Wandering officer]]
*[[List of slang terms for police officers]]

==References==
{{Reflist|1}}

==Bibliography==
{{Library resources box |others=no}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Police officers}}
* [http://www.discoverpolicing.org discoveringpolicing.org]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20020414181517/http://www.met.police.uk/history/ Metropolitan Police history]
* [https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=3uNpO3NX&id=F0F7CC87F394CCD8207AAF364D88026E6C4EC147&thid=OIP.3uNpO3NXDCTpM-OX8N4S7wHaKj&mediaurl=https%3a%2f%2fs-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com%2f736x%2ff4%2fb6%2fdd%2ff4b6ddaca0efd1bd6e4607d066b8366c.jpg&exph=1049&expw=736&q=constable+civil+war&simid=608014938935201477&selectedIndex=9&ajaxhist=0 19th Century picture of a US Police Officer with 6 pointed badge star]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Police Officer}}
[[Category:Police officers| ]]
[[Category:Police ranks|Officer]]