Last Post: 4:03:24pm, 01/19/2018
Depending on the size of the department, the need for them to get somewhere quickly is very, very common. This usually goes back to providing backup to other officers who are either also en route to/actively dealing with some shenanigans. Go on a ride along with any big city PD and you'll be surprised at how often they'll activate lights and hit the air horn to get through an intersection so they can get to an area in a more timely fashion.
And yes, this includes speeding. They are literally allowed to go a certain or set MPH over a limit to facilitate the execution of their duties, depending on the circumstances (I.E. responding code 2 allows them to go 10 over, code 3 allows them to go 15/20/whatever over, etc).
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My world is fire and blood. Once, I was a cop, a road warrior searching for a righteous cause. It was hard to know who was more crazy--me, or everyone else.