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 West Virginia, as in other states, police officers are sworn law enforcement officials who have taken an oath to protect and serve the public. Their primary responsibilities include enforcing state and local laws, investigating crimes, and apprehending individuals suspected of committing offenses. Police departments operate at various levels, including municipal (city police), county (sheriff's departments), and state (West Virginia State Police). Each department has its own jurisdiction but may collaborate with other law enforcement agencies to ensure public safety. The authority of police officers to enforce laws, conduct investigations, and make arrests is derived from state statutes and is subject to constitutional limitations, such as those found in the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.