Police Officer Career Resources

Police Officer Career Overview

Police officers work with the public under both the best and worst of circumstances. Their ultimate responsibility is to uphold the laws of country, state, and locality. The work of a police officer is full of variety, encompassing tasks such as patrolling city streets, neighborhoods, parks, and anywhere people are gathered. It also involves resolving disputes, attending court proceedings, helping people who are having trouble along the roadways, investigating crime scenes, and a whole host of other duties.

Police officers are also involved in prevention type work: going to local schools to talk about the consequences associated with drug use and arranging for simulated accident scenes at local high schools to give real meaning to the disaster of drinking and driving.

Another career consideration is that police work is 24/7. There are three shifts each day: the day shift which normally begins at 6 or7 am, the swing shift which begins around 3 or 3:30 pm, and finally, the graveyard shift which starts about 11 pm or midnight. New members of the force will get the least desirable shifts and schedules until they reach a level of seniority when the next wave of recruits replaces them on those schedules.

Police Officer Job Responsibilities

Police officers are responsible for maintaining law and order and keeping citizens safe. More specifically, this means:

• Issuing traffic tickets
• Helping stranded motorists
• Assisting at accident scenes
• Administering first aid
• Interviewing suspects, witness, and others
• Completing necessary paperwork (can be quite involved)
• Gathering evidence or taking fingerprints at crime scenes
• Negotiating to resolve heightened emotional and potentially dangerous situations

Police Officer Career Educational Requirements

To become a police officer does not require a great deal of specialized education, though some branches may require more than others. Generally, a high school diploma is sufficient along with the following: passing the civil service exam, going on an interview with one or more department officers, and passing a thorough investigation of your background and character. You must also be 21 years old.

However, some departments look favorably upon an associates or bachelors degree in criminal justice or some similar legally based program. In addition, it cannot hurt to have courses in electronic security, social services, criminology, psychology, and sociology.

Police Officer Career Options

If it’s a career in police work you want, there are five areas to take a look at and consider.

• Patrol/police officer: These officers work in cities and communities patrolling streets, dealing with domestic situations, handling crime scenes, and generally upholding the peace and order of the community.
• Sheriff: These deputies basically do the same things as a patrol officer, but often in more rural areas as well as for suburbs and towns that don’t have their own police departments.
• Detective: Detectives are called in to solve crimes and investigate leads, interview suspects, and track down the solutions to legally dubious situations.
• State trooper: Troopers handle interstate and major highway issues including enforcing speed limits, handling accident and disaster scenes, helping motorists, and making the highways safe.
• Federal officer: Most notable here is the FBI whose agents work on crimes against federal law including drug trafficking, organized crime, kidnapping, and terrorism.

Police Officer Career Specialties

Many individuals who enter the police officer profession find the work so satisfying that they choose to make it their life’s career. However, within the realm of law enforcement, other options exist including:

Mounted Police Officer
Police Sergeant
Chief of Police
University/Campus Police Officer
Law Enforcement K-9 Handler

Police Officer Salary Ranges

According to Payscale.com the average annual earnings of police and sheriffs officers is as follows:

Less than 1 year on the job: $37,050
1 – 4 years: $39,163
5 – 10 years: $47,717
10 – 19: $53,547
20+: $63,704

Career & Salary Resources

Police Officer Professional Organizations

You can find more information about a career in law enforcement by contacting any of the following professional organizations:

National Association of Police Organizations
www.napo.org

National Fraternal Order of Police
www.grandlodgefop.org

American Federation of Police and Concerned Citizens
www.aphf.org

Association for Crime Scene Investigation
www.acsr.org

Crime Prevention Coalition of America
www.ncpc.org