What is the primary responsibility of a law enforcement officer?

• A. To enforce only traffic laws.
• B. To handle administrative tasks within the department.
• C. Prevention and detection of crime or enforcement of penal, criminal, traffic, or highway laws.
• D. To conduct community outreach programs only.

Answer: (C)

The main responsibility of a law enforcement officer is to prevent and detect crime and to enforce penal, criminal, traffic, and highway laws. This broad duty captures patrolling to deter crime, investigating incidents, and applying the law to keep the public safe across multiple areas of law. While administrative tasks and community outreach are important parts of policing, they are supporting functions and do not alone define the officer’s primary role. Therefore, this broader scope best reflects what the job entails.