Unlike in GTA IV, they do not arrest NPCs and instead shoot on sight, whenever they are armed or not.
They can also be found in the skies during a pursuit, whether be an NPC or a protagonist. Like in San Andreas, helicopters can be found flying around South Los Santos looking for crime. In GTA V, police officers now act aggressively towards NPCs, engaging in car chases and gunfights against pursuers. It is nearly impossible to carjack a police vehicle with offices inside without being instantly busted, and they will also more aggressively climb on board vehicles and otherwise pursue Victor, which makes getting busted more likely. The Police AI is more advanced in Vice City Stories, rendering them more tenacious in pursuing the player, even at a one-star wanted level. Their cars are fast, and they come two per unit. Also, in Vice City and Vice City Stories, undercover " Vice Squad" officers armed with Uzis in Cheetahs will chase the player at 3 stars and above. SWAT teams are a real threat to the player and come in 4 men per team. They have Micro Uzis in GTA III and San Andreas, and Uzis in Vice City, Liberty City Stories and Vice City Stories. Their Enforcers are fast and can smash up a vehicle in a small amount of time. They all drive Enforcer trucks and are armed with weapons that will make short work of the player. In the 3D and HD Universe, at 4-star wanted levels, heavily armed, highly trained police officers will come after the protagonist and try killing or sometimes arresting him. The higher the wanted level, the larger the area. The Wanted Level in GTA IV system allows the player to evade a wanted level by escaping from a certain radius, based on the last place they were spotted. In GTA III, there may be rare occasions when police cars try to block the player's entrance to the Pay 'n' Spray, especially with higher Wanted levels. Wanted levels can be reduced by the use of a Pay 'n' Spray. In GTA Vice City Stories the player can pay a $2000 bribe to get their weapons back from either the hospital or police station. Being Wasted is only temporary and the player will respawn at the nearest hospital with the loss of weapons and some money (no weapons are lost in HD Universe). Higher levels of law enforcement are not concerned with arresting the player, but with killing the player, although will attempt vehicular arrest if the opportunity arises. If the player gets Busted by the police, the player will respawn at the nearest Police Station, but lose some money and all of his weapons, except in GTA San Andreas if CJ is dating Barbara as she is an officer herself. See a comprehensive list of arrestable offenses below. The police will not arrest you for trespassing on private property, traffic offenses (ex. Relevant offenses include crashing into a police car, shooting pedestrians, having sex with prostitutes in GTA San Andreas, stealing vehicles, entering prohibited areas or occasionally unavoidable participation in certain missions (ex. Police responses vary depending on the wanted level, ranging from foot chases to calling in the helicopter, the Special Weapons and Tactics ( NOOSE in HD Universe), the FBI ( FIB in the HD Universe) or even the armed forces. More serious crimes will grant a higher wanted level. If the player is noticed performing a crime, he may gain a Wanted Star (increasing his wanted level). The police work upon a Wanted Level system against the player.
The police, as well as all other forms of law enforcement in the Grand Theft Auto series, have been depicted as corrupt, lazy, aggressive, overzealous and often trigger-happy, although the levels of these vary greatly between each game.
This theme is present throughout the entire series, although the exact details vary between games. The main role of the Police in-game is to make crime difficult for the player - and to provide a brooding reliable enemy and a challenge both in and out of missions. The police are present in all Grand Theft Auto games. They ensure public and social order, through the legitimized and restricted use of force. The police (also referred to as cops ), pigs, popo by African-Americans, chota by Hispanics, babylon by Jamaicans, C.R.A.S.H., cherry tops, Five-O, fuzz, one time, flatfeet, or heat) are uniformed officers responsible for enforcing the law. For links to law enforcement agencies in the various universes, see Law Enforcement.Īn LCPD Police Cruiser on patrol in GTA IV.