A police force is a constituted body of persons empowered by the state to <answer>enforce the law, protect property, and limit civil disorder</answer>. Their powers include the legitimized use of force. The term is most commonly associated with police services of a sovereign state that are authorized to exercise the police power of that state within a defined legal or territorial area of responsibility. Police forces are often defined as being separate from military or other organizations involved in the defense of the state against foreign aggressors; however, gendarmerie are military units charged with civil policing.
What does the state want a police force to do?
enforce the law, protect property, and limit civil disorder