This is an accepted version of this page public safety, civil service, public service, rescue, A police officer (also called a policeman (male) or policewoman (female), a cop, an officer, or less commonly a constable) is a warranted law employee of a police force.

A sheriff is typically the top police officer of a county, with that word coming from the person enforcing law over a shire.

Typical duties relate to keeping the peace, law enforcement, protection of people and property and the investigation of crimes.

In some countries, rules and procedures dictate that a police officer is obliged to intervene in a criminal incident, even when off-duty.

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.

Police are also trained to assist persons in distress, such as motorists whose cars have broken down and people experiencing a medical emergency.

[7] Increasing numbers of people joining the police possess tertiary education[8] qualifications and in response to this, many police forces have developed a "fast-track" scheme whereby those with university degrees spend two to three years as a constable before receiving promotion to higher ranks, such as sergeants or inspectors.

Promotion is not automatic and usually requires the candidate to pass some kind of examination, interview board or other selection procedure.

[citation needed] In some countries, including Singapore, police ranks are supplemented through conscription, similar to national service in the military.

[11] 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.

[15][16] In 2023, a Senior Deputy with The San Francisco Sheriff's Office earned a top salary of double those in Connecticut.

[17] There are numerous concerns affecting the 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.

[20] While officers are trained to avoid excessive use of force, and may be held legally accountable for infractions, the variability of law enforcement and its dependence on human judgment have made the subject an area of controversy and research.