Police is the function of that branch of the administrative machinery of government which is charged wlth the pres-ervatton of public order and tranquillity, the promotion of the public health, safety, and morals, and the preventlon, detection, and punishment of crlmes. See State v. Hine. 59 Conn. 50, 21 Atl. 1024, 10 L. R. A. 83; Monet v. Jones, 10 Smedes & M. (Miss.) 247; Peo-ple v. Squire, 107 N. Y. 593, 14 N. E. 820, 1 Am. SL Rep. 893; Logan v. State, 5 Tex. App. 314
Source: Black’s Law Dictionary 2nd Ed (1910)
