Police Officer Jobs | Detective Careers | Police Detective Jobs
Police Officer Jobs - What is the Job of a Net Detective? What do Police Officer Jobs Entail?
Law enforcement officers are expected to apprehend and pursue persons who break the law, and to either arrest them or issue them warnings or citations. The role of a police officer and detective is to protect the lives of citizens, as well as their property.
Most police officers will spend their time writing reports and maintaining records, but policemen will also patrol in order to catch speeding vehicle owners, and to investigate any suspicious activity that is present in their jurisdiction.
Professional detectives may be known a special agents, and they are mostly responsible for gathering facts and collecting evidence to charge an individual with a crime. The daily work life of a police career will vary depending on their specialty, such as whether they work for a local or state agency.
At all levels of the job, much of police work is filled up by writing reports and maintaining records in case they are needed in a court of law.
Uniformed police officers are responsible for managing patrols and responding to 911 distress calls. Much of the work that a police officer does is quite boring, and an officer may buildup relationships with the local people in the town, forming neighborhood watches in order to prevent crime.
Other law enforcement officers will pursue and arrest suspected criminals, in addition to providing traffic law enforcement. There are a wide variety of different police forces, whether they be university, public, or transportation police.
The fields of work that a police officer job entails can be diverse, involving such activities as handwriting forgery identification, fingerprint identification, firearms training and instruction, and microscopic analysis of tissue samples and bullets. Other specialties include canine police officers, motorcycle officers, and special weapons and tactics teams, among others.
On a local level, the sheriff’s job involves enforcing the laws of a locality, and these of law enforcement professionals are typically elected by the citizenry.
State troopers, also known as state police officers or highway patrolman, are responsible for enforcing motor vehicle laws and restrictions, issuing citations to drivers. In addition, state trooper may direct traffic in poor weather or emergency situations, offer first aid, and call for emergency medical backup.
Private detectives and police detectives are responsible for gathering facts and information in order to identify criminal behaviors and to prosecute them. Police detectives may be responsible for participating in raids on suspects, and they will usually specialize in one particular area of crime such as arson or fraud.
Game wardens and fish wardens are responsible for enforcing all boating, swimming, fishing, and hunting laws, and most of their job involves rescue operations, investigating complaints in public parks, and prosecuting in court cases, which usually involve arson.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation plays a key role in law enforcement on a national level. FBI agents are responsible for national security and investigating a wide variety of organized crime such as financial fraud, bank robber, terrorism, corruption, organized crime, and trafficking.
Other Federal agencies that help prosecute criminal activity include the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, which regulates laws dealing with illegal drugs, United States marshals and deputy marshals, who protect the integrity of the Federal Court system, and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security Special Agents, who are responsible for fighting terrorism.
The Department of Homeland Security is a fairly new organization, which is responsible for protecting the American border, whether it be through customs protection, immigration enforcement, or utilizing the United States secret service.
United States border agents are responsible for protecting the 8000 miles of land and sea that belongs to America. Customs inspectors are responsible for inspecting cargo on people, vehicles, aircraft, and other mechanisms by which materials can be brought into the United States.
The United States Bureau of Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, are responsible for enforcing alcohol and tobacco tax regulations, in addition to enforcing Federal firearm laws.
Other less known policing agencies of the Federal government include the United States Postal Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the National Forest Service, and the National Park Service.
Working Conditions for Police Officer Employment - How is the Working Environment for Police Detective Jobs?
The working environment of police and detective jobs can be dangerous, although some police have office jobs that are relatively safe. Law enforcement officers must constantly be aware of situations around them in order to protect themselves from injury are death as a result of criminal behavior.
The United States Secret Service and special agents of the DEA have to frequently travel on short notice, and they may be relocated many times during this stretch of their career.
Most police detectives and agents, in addition to law enforcement officers, will work a 40 hour workweek with overtime being common. Police officers must be armed and ready to deal with any threat that comes their way, and since criminals do not take off on nights and holidays, police officers and detectives must be on patrol during these times.
Detective Career Education - How to Become a Police Officer - How to Receive Your Education in Law Enforcement Training
In order to obtain police officer training, it is necessary to have a high school education, some college, or a college degree depending on the position that one wants to enter. Most law enforcement officers simply require a high school education, with on the job police training and a police academy which can last from 3 to 4 months, where aspiring police officers will be taught state laws, investigation techniques, traffic control, firearm use, self defense, and emergency response techniques.
After graduating from these law enforcement programs, police officers will then enter into active duty under a more experienced police veteran. Most law enforcement agencies at the local, state, or Federal level pay for training if it is going to lead to a degree in criminal justice.
Sometimes high schoolers are allowed to enter into law enforcement in a clerical position, gaining on the job experience until are old enough to enter the force.
Federal agents, such as FBI agents, must be graduates from college, and have adequate amounts of work experience in addition to professional work experience. Federal agent training is conducted at the FBI academy in Quantico, Virginia, which takes 18 weeks. Other policing agencies have varying requirements on enforcement training.
Law Enforcement Training - How to Become Certified in Police Chief Jobs
Police certification requires that one be 20 years old, a United States citizens, and pass a rigorous physical exam in order to join the force. Since law enforcement officers must deal with dangerous situations, a sense of integrity and strong judgment, in addition to personal charisma are all assets to the badge.
Tests that law enforcement officials must have to undergo usually include hearing, vision, and agility, in addition to a number of written exams and random drug testing.
After a period of probation, police officers can become detectives or specialized in a particular line of policing work. As a police officer gains experience, they will be promoted to such positions as corporal, police sergeant, and police captain if they have the necessary training and skills required for such law enforcement jobs. Advanced training in police work is common which can include communication skills, firearms, crowd control, legal aspects of law, and law enforcement.
Outlook for Police Officer Jobs - What is the Future of Police Detective Jobs?
Over the next decade, the field of law enforcement officers and police detective employment should grow by about 11%, due to a growing population with an increased need for police services. Since police work is dangerous and few people want to enter into the profession, the job prospects for individuals hoping to enter the service are excellent.
Layoffs are not common during hard times, as during such periods criminal activities on the rise, and cutting the police force would be counterproductive.
Police Officer Salary Pay Scale - How Much Do Police Officer Jobs Earn?
In 2006, police officers and sheriffs patrol jobs earn a median salary of $47,460, with those in state government earning the most, and those federal officers in Federal government law enforcement positions earning the least.
Detectives and police supervisor jobs had a median salary of $69,310 over the same time period. Federal employee salaries can vary, and overtime of 25% can be awarded because of the large deal of overtime that employees must work.
FBI agents entering the federal force had a base salary of $49,159 in 2007, and earned slightly over $60,000 a year with overtime. Special law enforcement officer jobs made considerably more, and those agents in a supervisory position for the FBI received a base salary of around $100,000 a year.
In 2006, the International City Council Management Association found that police chiefs had a minimum base salary of $70,547, while police corporals were paid the least of all supervisory positions at $44,160.
Of course all of these numbers do not take into account the very generous benefits that police officer careers receive, such as medical insurance, life insurance, sick leave, paid vacation, and the ability to retire after serving 25 years in the force.