They arrest people who break the law. Officers also direct and monitor traffic, investigate complaints, and patrol the city. Many officers use computers when investigating crimes. The computer helps them spot crime trends and run checks of license plates. All officers write reports and maintain police records.
Some officers go to court to testify about arrests they made.
In small towns, officers spend most of their time on peace-keeping tasks. For example, they give directions, handle traffic accidents, and resolve family fights. The rest of their time is spent investigating crimes. Sheriffs serve in areas that are not covered by police departments. In large police departments, officers are usually assigned to a specific duty.