*Job
Description:
Police officers and detectives provide protection for citizens and
their property. Uniformed police officers perform basic law enforcement
duties, responding to calls and working regular patrols.
In the larger police departments officers are assigned to different
types of duties. They may investigate a robbery, direct traffic at an
accident or if a traffic light isn't working. They may also administer
first aid to an accident victim. Police officers in urban areas get
involved with community leaders in building trust trust and
relationships with the citizens in helping fight crime.
Police departments are
generally organized into geographic districts, such as a business
district or residential neighborhoods. In smaller cities police
officers may work alone where as in larger cities they often work in
pairs. They familiarize themselves within their patrol area and if
somethings out of place or doesn't seem right, they are apt to notice.
A typical shift for a police officer may include an arrest, resolve
family and neighborhood disputes, traffic stops, checking windows and
doors at businesses, etc.
Some police officers will go
on to become a police instructor in police firearms training or
fingerprint identification. Some work in special weapons and tactics
unit (SWAT), while others work with a canine or patrol on bicycles,
motorcycles and horseback.
Become a police detective:
Police detectives investigate and gather crime scene evidence. Unlike
patrol officers in uniform detectives and investigators wear
plainclothes. They investigate any number of crimes-homicide, fraud,
etc. They will interview witnesses and try to piece together evidence
for later use in a conviction. They are signed to cases on a rotating
basis and work on them until an arrest is made or the case is dropped.
*Education/Training:
Requirements
to become a police officer:
Applicants must be a U.S. citizen and be in good physical condition.
Civil Service handles the appointment of police and detectives in most
States. Applicants usually has to have at least a high school
education. Some departments may require one or two years of college law
enforcement training courses.
Training to become a police officer:
Before their first
assignment the officers will most likely go through police training
classes usually at their police academy schools for 12 to 14 weeks.
Police officers and detectives continue basic law enforcement training
throughout their career for promotions and pay raises.
*Job
Outlook:
With more security concerns
and the increase in crime should contribute to the increasing demand
for police officers. Employment for police officers and police
detectives is expected to grow 9% to 17% through 2014.
*Working
Conditions:
Police and detective work can
be a stressful and dangerous job. Police officers and detectives
generally work a typical 40 hour week with overtime. common. Because
citizens need 24 hour protection, officers work different shifts. The
rookie officers frequently work nights, weekends and holidays.
Detectives often work long hours solving a case.
*Estimated
Average Annual Earnings:
$44,390.
police officers salary depends on location,
size of city and population.
