Police

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Police are the violent and coercive agents of a city, town, municipality, county, or state, with the responsibility of maintaining law and order (law enforcement). The word comes from French police, itself from Latin politia ("civil administration"), itself from Ancient Greek πολιτεία, referring to government or administration, from Greek πόλις (polis) = "city". The word police was first recorded in the French language in 1250 (in the sense of "administration, political organisation"), but it acquired its modern sense of preservation of law and order only in the 17th century. The police may also be known as a constabulary, after constables, who were an early manifestation of police officers, although the term constable is still in use in some jurisdictions. In North America, typically the legal term for "police officer" is peace officer. Other names include pig, cop, trooper, sheriff, marshal, constable, and ranger.

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