Police Officer Job Description, Career as a Police Officer, Salary, Employment - Definition and Nature of the Work, Education and Training Requirements, Getting the Job
officers applicants twenty crimes
Education and Training High school plus training
Salary Median—$45,210 per year
Employment Outlook Good
Definition and Nature of the Work
Police officers protect the lives and property of citizens. They maintain order, catch lawbreakers, and work to prevent crimes. In small towns they perform many duties. Larger cities have a more structured division of responsibility. Police officers may patrol the streets on foot or in squad cars; control traffic; or work as detectives investigating crimes. At the police station officers may be assigned to work in the crime laboratory or the records department. All officers file reports of incidents, and many testify at trials and hearings.
Police officers are supervised by senior officers. The chain of command is modeled after that of the armed services. In larger cities sergeants, lieutenants, and captains direct the work of squads or companies of officers. Ranking officers
Police officers in large cities may work as patrol officers assigned to either traffic control or crime prevention, as detectives who investigate crimes, or as officers in the crime laboratory.
generally report to police chiefs or commissioners. In small towns the chief of police may be the only ranking officer.
Education and Training Requirements
Many police departments require that applicants be high school graduates; an increasing number expect some college education. Applicants usually must be at least twenty-one years of age and U.S. citizens. In many communities, applicants must meet minimum requirements for height, weight, eyesight, and hearing.
Because most police departments fall under civil service regulations, applicants must pass written tests that measure their analytical skills. Rigorous physical examinations and background checks are also required. Senior officers screen applicants.
New recruits often participate in formal classroom training in police academies. After graduating they continue to train on the job with experienced officers for three to twelve months. In small communities there may be no formal training program. Officers are usually encouraged to continue their education by taking college courses in criminal justice.
Getting the Job
Those who want to be police officers must first take the civil service test. Many departments allow high school graduates and college students studying criminal justice to start out as cadets or trainees while still in their teens. If they meet all the requirements, cadets may be appointed to regular police work when they turn twenty-one.
Advancement Possibilities and Employment Outlook
For promotion to higher rank, officers must take civil service tests. Good work records and special honors help officers get ahead. Police officers who have investigation abilities may advance to detective. Other positions include sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and inspector.
The employment of police officers is expected to grow as fast the average for all jobs through 2014. Openings will depend on government funding and the number of experienced officers who retire or leave the profession. Competition for jobs will be stiff. The best opportunities will be found in urban areas.
Working Conditions
Police work can be dangerous and stressful. Officers often deal with violent criminals and may be injured or killed. They must make quick decisions while on duty, yet be tactful and patient with people who are in trouble or have been victims of terrible crimes and abuse.
Police protection is provided twenty-four hours a day, so officers may work outdoors in all kinds of weather. Work shifts are usually rotated; however, officers are on call at all times for emergencies. Overtime may be required. Most police departments provide uniforms or uniform allowances. Many officers belong to labor unions.
Earnings and Benefits
Earnings vary, depending on location. In 2004 the median salary for police officers was $45,210 per year. As officers advanced through the ranks, wages increased. The average minimum salary for police sergeants was $49,895 per year, while the average minimum for lieutenants was $56,115 per year.
Benefits include paid health and life insurance, sick days, and vacations. Many officers are covered by pension plans that allow them to retire at half their pay after twenty or twenty-five years of service.
User Comments
almost 4 years ago
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over 3 years ago
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over 3 years ago
thanx 4 da information im doin a class project rite now n my career choice is becoming a police officer
10 months ago
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2 months ago
Im a female at the age of 19. Im going to be in the field soon! I definitely can't wait! I know its going to tough, but im pretty sure i'll manage. Thanks so much for the passage above. Made me abit more excited :)
12 months ago
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9 months ago
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over 3 years ago
thasnks for the info
almost 4 years ago
im a freshman that lives in hawaii and this information is a lot of help...
3 months ago
Im only 13 i cant wait to be old enough to be a cop
over 3 years ago
thnks 4 da info it was very useful and I also give thnks to da police who protect and serve our neighborhoods
10 months ago
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i am a police officer and i just shot my first black guy everyone in the department loves me
10 months ago
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about 1 year ago
Thanks for the information this really helped me out in my classroom assingemnt at vicksburg high school. I do plan on becoming a officer one day or maybe join the army just like my uncle dryus williams again thanks for all the information.
10 months ago
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9 months ago
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9 months ago
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7 months ago
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6 months ago
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10 months ago
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11 months ago
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12 months ago
Thanks for this, it was very helpful im almost out of high school and thinking about pursuing this
12 months ago
des
thank you for the information i plan on going to new river in the fall. i want to be a police officer becuase a lot of people in my family is or are a detective and i wanna be like my cousin and be a police officer.
over 3 years ago
I appreciate the information available on this website. It has proven useful as a good resource for a paper in one of my Criminal Justice core classes. The only thing I can see that I would do different if it were my website is include the name of an author for citing purposes whether the information is origonal or not, just make sure to site the sources any outside information came from to avoid plagarism. According to the American Psycological Association (APA) format, including the author when citing a reference is more effective. Though it is not a problem because if there is not an author available APA just requires the name of the institution or establishment information comes from listed first instead of an author. Other than that, this material was well organized, direct, and to the point. Well done!
about 1 year ago
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almost 4 years ago
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11 months ago
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almost 4 years ago
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3 months ago
this is great information i want to be a police officer some day im 15 and going to m-tech next year i want to work with the K-9 unit but i dont kw exactly how far you have to go to be that if you could give me some information i would really like that thanks
11 months ago
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5 months ago
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11 months ago
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12 months ago
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10 months ago
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10 months ago
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4 months ago
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5 months ago
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20 days ago
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about 1 month ago
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about 1 month ago
HABIB
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12 months ago
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about 3 years ago
My parents are police officers and they enjoy their job very much. The job isnt really about going in police cars and finding criminals, there are many different rankings:
* Chief of Police/Commissioner: Four stars, similar to a full general.
* Deputy Chief of Police/Deputy Commissioner: Three stars, similar to a lieutenant general.
* Assistant Chief of Police/Assistant Commissioner: Two stars, similar to a major general.
* Inspector/Commander/Colonel: a gold eagle. "Inspector" is also used as a term for "detective" in police departments such as San Francisco and Chicago but is two ranks above Captain in cities such as New York and Philadelphia.
* Major: either a gold or silver oak leaf, similar to a major or lieutenant colonel, supervisor of a Police Station in larger cities such as Baltimore, New Orleans, and Atlanta.
* Captain: two gold or silver bars ("Railroad tracks"), often supervises a Police station but can supervise an entire division (Detectives, Patrol, etc) in smaller departments and only certain sections of a police station in larger departments.
* Lieutenant: a single gold or silver bar, who supervises two to three sergeants. Lieutenants can supervise an entire watch shift of a police station or detective squad (Narcotics, Homicide, etc.) in larger police departments and entire precincts in smaller police departments.
* Sergeant: three inverted chevrons, a police officer who supervises an entire watch shift in smaller departments and areas of a precinct and individual detective squads in larger departments.
* Detective: an investigatory specialist, usually working in plain clothes. This may be in several classes that correspond to higher supervisory and pay grades.
* Officer: a normal police officer. Wears no rank insignia.
11 months ago
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over 3 years ago
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over 3 years ago
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9 months ago
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10 months ago
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over 2 years ago
thankyou for the information, my step dad is a state patrol officer and i plan on pursuing him and becoming a state patrol officer when i graduate school, and go to college. the information is very good and the information needed was very much appreciated. i am elligable to become a state patrol officer when i am older. i have dedication to my goals and i plan on making this happen. it really isnt about driving fast, writing tickets and having people think your a jerk for doing it. when people dont obey the law thats when enforcment comes in to make sure that people dont get hurt and that they go by the law. every summer i go to the police station, and work there, and i am more and more dedicated and i cant wait to be a police officer. so thank you very much.
4 months ago
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4 months ago
sergio saona
excelent work,information with no equal,right to the point,thank you very much.
5 months ago
Is ther a "minimum height requirement" to be a Chicago police officer, and if so, what is the minimum requirement - for both males and females?
Thank you.
10 months ago
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2 months ago
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3 months ago
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7 months ago
Kalai Kajal
Highe: 5 ft and 7 inch
Chest: 37 inch
8 months ago
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8 months ago
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9 months ago
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over 1 year ago
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10 months ago
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10 months ago
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over 3 years ago
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10 months ago
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10 months ago
im very interested in helping others,im in school now for medical assistant but i would love to become an officer of the law to not only protect and serve but to make OUR world a better place with less violence with this being said thank you for the inputs and all the infomation i look forward to being a officer one day.
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about 1 year ago
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about 3 years ago
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2 months ago
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9 months ago
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3 months ago
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19 days ago
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23 days ago
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10 months ago
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about 1 month ago
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8 days ago
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14 days ago
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