The Department of Police exists to safeguard the lives and safety of all persons within the City, to protect property, and to assist in securing to all persons the equal protection of the law. The Department has the responsibility to preserve the public peace, to detect and prevent the commission of crime, to enforce the laws and ordinances of the State and City, to apprehend and to arrest criminals and those who violate or are lawfully accused of violating such laws and ordinances, to preserve order at public places, and to maintain the safe and orderly flow of traffic on public streets and highways.