What is a police officer's job?

Question

I looked up on Google and the description cannot be correct based on a Supreme Court ruling it's not their job to protect you.
Even though if you look up on Google what their job and duty is it says to protect people and property that's not their job
So what is the police officer's job

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Running after criminals while eating donuts.

Brian · Answer

Their job is to put you in jail...plain and simple.

Beverly S · Answer

To stop crime.  Which PROTECTS you.

Ann · Answer

When a police officer is sworn in as a graduate of a police academy, part of the oath is he/she promises to "serve and protect" the public.  They absolutely do protect property from being looted or burglarized, and they protect people from crime by patrolling in neighborhoods. Some examples of this occurred here this past year  1) when we had a huge tornado here in Dallas (TX) that destroyed a large section of the city.  Several banks were in the path of the storm, and in the aftermath, officers were assigned to guard the bank properties 24 hrs. a day to keep looters away, and 2) when there is a march or demonstration held, officers are dispatched to stand by and protect the marchers/demonstrators from being injured or harassed.  Officers were on hand to protect marchers on 11 different occasions in 2019.  And they do apprehend and arrest people who are in the act of committing a crime if they come upon the scene on time. That is their service to the public--to keep criminals from being successful and/or to get them away from people they can hurt or kill by seeing that they are arrested for crimes that have been committed.

STEVEN F · Answer

I DO NOT BELIEVE even Google stated their job is to protect property. It is to ENFORCE the law. Those are NOT the same.

You say "hey don't have an obligation to offer the services that are considered enforcing the laws".
I don't know what services you are referring to, but that sentence violates the definitions of the words used.

Which would mean they technically do not have to arrest a criminal that is currently committing a crime
That isn't even CLOSE to what the Supreme Court said.

Bruce · Answer

What you read on a department's official website is probably most accurate. A Supreme Court decision on accountability does not change that. 
What you read on Google is pretty much a matter of that person's opinion.

out2lunch4now2 · Answer

It is not their job, according to the Supreme Court, to protect individual citizens except for a few clearly identified individuals (politicians, mostly).  Their job is to protect the general population.

Anonymous · Answer

“Never there when you need one”.  However, well trained to investigate a crime, provide material evidence to present to courts, arrest violators and criminals with warrants, car chases, domestic violence calls, traffic incidents, crowd control, and other associated duties.

Donnie Porko · Answer

It’s their jobs to shoot and kill people for no apparent reason.

Captain Matticus, LandPiratesInc · Answer

To enforce the law.  That's about it.

What is a police officer's job?

19 Answers