Final answer:
Officers use emergency lighting and audible signals during emergency response situations to alert and protect the public. This has historical roots in WWII air raid protocols, and today it's essential for public safety during potential hazards.
Step-by-step explanation:
Officers will use emergency lighting and audible signals such as sirens as needed during emergency response situations. This practice can be traced back to emergency protocols established historically, such as during World War II when the Office of Civilian Defense helped devise blackouts and air raid drills to protect from enemy invasion.
During these drills, the ring of alarm-bells, and the whirr of swift-streaking engines with colored lights would signify an impending drill or threat.
In the modern context, such lighting and signals warn the public of various emergencies, including severe fires or hazards, and are vital for the safety of both officers responding to an emergency and the general public.