Exercise 12.
read and translate the text. while reading the text try to find answers to these questions:
-what are the main types of police agencies operating in the usa?
- what are the other police forces functioning there too?
the police in the usa
the usa inherited england’s common law and its system of policing. the colonists had the night watch under constables, with all able-bodied men over 16 serving without pay.
there are five main types of police agencies operating in the usa: police agencies of the federal government, state police forces, sheriffs in counties, the police forces of cities and towns, and the police of villages.
besides there are such special police forces as parks police, bridge and tunnel administration police forces, and police organizations for special tasks. there are about 40,000 separate police agencies in the united states of america.
the federal police agencies are financed from the federal fund. other police forces are financed from the respective authorities’ funds. policemen have weapons, such as revolvers, clubs and gas pistols.
investigations of crimes are conducted by detectives, who are sometimes called plain-clothes officers, because they do not wear uniforms. there is the vice squad in some police departments. they investigate cases that involve gambling, prostitution and other immoral illegal activities.
detectives work in various specialized fields that deal with such crimes as murder, burglary, drug-trafficking and others. in a murder case, detectives may start their investigation by searching for bloodstains, fingerprints and weapon. they question any witnesses, suspects or others who may have information about the crime.
various technical units assist the police in an investigation. the photography unit takes pictures of the crime scene and the evidence. the crime laboratory collects and examines clues: bloodstains, bullets, fingerprints, hair samples. later the reports of the detectives and technical workers are used in court.
patrol operations are foundation of police work. patrol officers are assigned beats to cover on foot, in squad cars, or in motorcycles. in some cities, they patrol parks on horseback.
patrol officers inspect their beats repeatedly. they are often assigned to control crowds at parades, fairs and other public events. police officers may arrest a person they see committing a crime.
traffic officers maintain public safety on streets and highways. they direct traffic, protect pedestrians, help drivers and settle parking, speed and other traffic laws. traffic officers also investigate traffic accidents, enforce safety and license regulations for motor vehicles. some police departments use helicopters to inspect traffic.
vocabulary notes:
1. to inherit – наследовать
2. night watch – ночной дозор
3. county – округ
4. respective – соответствующий
5. club –дубинка
6. plain-clothes officers – офицеры в штатском
7. vice squad – полиция нравов
8. gambling – азартные игры
9. burglary – кража со взломом
10. to search – искать, исследовать
11. bloodstain – пятно крови
12. clue – улика, доказательство
13. bullet – пуля
14. to assign – назначать, определять
15. beat – участок, контролируемый полицейским
16. repeatedly – часто, неоднократно
17. fair – ярмарка
18. highway – шоссе, магистраль
19. pedestrian – пешеход
20. helicopter – вертолет
