Archaic the regulation within a community of morals, safety, sanitation, etc.; public order; law enforcement
the governmental department (of a city, state, etc.) organized for keeping order, enforcing the law, and preventing, detecting, and prosecuting crimes
a governmental force, or body of persons, established and maintained for keeping order, etc.
a private organization like this: security police at a college
the members of any such force
Informal those who act as self-appointed guardians of morality, propriety, style, etc.: usually somewhat disparaging: the fashion police, the language police
☆ U.S. Army
the work or duty of keeping a camp, post, etc. clean and orderly
the soldiers charged with such duty: kitchen police