The police are law enforcement officers who usually take an oath (make a promise) to protect and serve their communities. Police officers—or collectively, police departments—enforce laws, investigate potential crimes, and make arrests.
In Indiana, as in other states, police officers are sworn law enforcement officials who have taken an oath to protect and serve the public. They are responsible for enforcing state laws and local ordinances. Their duties include patrolling communities to deter and detect crime, conducting investigations into criminal activity, and apprehending individuals suspected of committing offenses. Police departments, which are made up of these officers, operate at various levels, including city, county, and state (such as the Indiana State Police). They work in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies to maintain public safety and order. The authority of police officers to enforce laws, investigate crimes, and make arrests is derived from state statutes and is subject to constitutional limitations to ensure the protection of individual rights.