They are best known, because of their high visibility on the street and least understood, because the citizens only have a sketchy comprehension of the intricacy of the policeman's job. Furthermore, much mythology surrounds the police and their work. The job is both enhanced and diminished by the advent of the television police officer. To some it is a tainted business, while to others it is a calling similar to the priesthood or medicine. The police face a succession of stresses and disputes that underscore a wide discrepancy between their self-image and the reality of the job.
Most officers see themselves as crime fighters.
They are primarily seen as those who enforce the laws and catch criminals. The job is difficult and potentially dangerous. A policeman must be able to handle difficult and dangerous situations quickly. Reporters and lawyers might take hours or months debating a decision that an officer was forced to make in a split second. Social policy represents the accumulation of values and standards that a society builds up over time.