Law enforcement in the United States

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Law enforcement in the United States operates primarily through governmental police agencies. There are 17,985 police agencies in the United States which include municipal police departments, county sheriff’s offices, state troopers, and federal law enforcement agencies. The law enforcement purposes of these agencies are the investigation of suspected criminal activity, referral of the results of investigations to state or federal prosecutors, and the temporary detention of suspected criminals pending judicial action. Law enforcement agencies are also commonly charged with the responsibilities of deterring criminal activity and preventing the successful commission of crimes in progress. Other duties may include the service and enforcement of warrants, writs, and other orders of the courts. In the United States, police are considered an emergency service involved in providing first response to emergencies and other threats to public safety; the protection of certain public facilities and...

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