polic

POLICE. That species of superintendence by magistrates which has principally 
for its object the maintenance of public tranquillity among the citizens. 
The officers who are appointed for this purpose are also called the police. 
     2. The word police has three significations, namely; 1. The first 
relates to the measures which are adopted to keep order, the, laws and 
ordinances on cleanliness, health, the markets, &c. 2. The second has for 
its object to procure to the authorities the means of detecting even the 
smallest attempts to commit crime, in order that the guilty may be arrested 
before their plans are carried into execution, and delivered over to the 
justice of the country. 3. The third comprehends the laws, ordinances and 
other measures which require the citizens to exercise their rights in a 
particular form. 
     3. Police has also been divided into administrative police, which has 
for its object to maintain constantly public order in every part of the 
general administration; and into judiciary police, which is intended 
principally to prevent crimes by punishing the criminals. Its object is to 
punish crimes which the administrative police has not been able to prevent.