What is the fundamental duty of a law enforcement officer according to the Code of Ethics?

• A. To maximize arrests
• B. To serve the community and safeguard lives and property
• C. To avoid risk
• D. To follow orders without question

Answer: (B)

The fundamental duty is to serve the community and safeguard lives and property. This reflects the core purpose of policing in the Code of Ethics: protect people, defend their rights, and act with integrity and accountability. Every action is guided by public safety, legality, and proportional responses, aiming to prevent harm and build trust with the community. Choices that focus on maximizing arrests miss the ethical obligation to act with fairness and necessity; avoiding risk would compromise the duty to protect the public; and following orders without question ignores the responsibility to uphold the law and intervene if an directive would cause harm or be unlawful.