A Police Officer maintains public order, and enforces laws by investigating crimes, patrolling public areas, and arresting suspected offenders. They assist people in emergency situations and coordinate emergency management procedures. Police officers also play an important role educating the community about crime prevention and creating safer communities. Police officers must also write reports and maintain information databases on a daily basis. Police Officers are employees of a law enforcement agency in their country, region, or city. Often called policemen, policewomen, or constables, police officers swear an oath to protect and serve the citizens they represent. They are warranted by the government to enforce the law by arresting criminals and detecting and preventing crimes. Because keeping the peace is a primary need of society, police officers have been around since civilization began. They are usually viewed as heroes within their communities due to the often dangerous situations they encounter in service to the public. The specific duties of a Police Officer largely depend on where they are located. In large cities, officers are usually assigned very specific job duties or will be assigned to a fraud, murder, drug-trafficking, or rape unit. Each unit has a specific goal, and the officers within the unit are trained solely for that objective. Police officers in rural areas rarely have the opportunity to specialize in any given area of law enforcement. Due to the tendency for lower crime rates and the relatively small population, officers in townships, co-ops, and other rural settings handle any or all law enforcement tasks, from simple traffic infractions to child protection or murder cases. A Police Officer's primary duty is to maintain public order. Patrol officers on foot, in a car, or even on horseback spend their days dealing with individuals who break the law. There are typical traffic violations that need to be dealt with of course, but police officers also receive calls to investigate burglaries or other serious crimes.