How do police officers protect people?

Law Enforcement helps is TONS of ways. Police can help a domestic violence victim get to a local shelter, assist in helping a gunshot victim survive, they can even help with a unfamiliar dog in your yard. A good police officer not only takes care of the current problem, but sees it through til the end (court trial, sentencing). If your case doesnt take the correct route to court, then all you have gained is a paper log (written report) of the incident.