Detective

What a Detective Does

Like police officers, detectives are responsible for protecting lives and property, as well as maintaining peace and order in their jurisdiction. Unlike police officers, they are plainclothes officers who spend more of their time investigating crimes and less of their time on patrol and responding to general calls for service. At larger departments, detectives are dedicated exclusively to criminal investigations. Their responsibilities include speaking to witnesses and victims of crime, speaking to suspects, collecting and documenting evidence at the scene of the crime and gathering any other information relevant to the criminal activity that has taken place, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Detectives must write detailed reports of their investigations in the event that another incident occurs with a certain perpetrator or in the event that the detective must testify in court. In larger police departments, detectives may be assigned to a task force to combat certain types of crime, such as drugs, fraud or homicide, the Bureau notes.

How to Become a Detective

Detectives generally begin their careers in law enforcement as uniformed police officers and work their way up to the rank of detective through promotion after demonstrating both the ability and desire to conduct police investigations. Entry-level police officers are required to have a minimum of a high school diploma and must also complete a 12- to 14-week training program in a police academy, according to the Bureau. Most departments prefer to hire applicants with at least some postsecondary education under their belt. College courses in police science, criminal justice, administration of justice and public administration are especially useful in preparing you for a career as a detective, the Bureau notes. Since the position of detective is not usually an entry-level position, many departments require or prefer a higher level of qualification, such as a college degree and a few years of experience in police work. The good news is many employers offer tuition reimbursement to police officers who wish to take college courses or pursue a degree related to law enforcement, the Bureau states.

Career Outlook for Detectives

Opportunities for jobs at local police departments should remain favorable for detectives, even though only average job growth is expected for police and detectives. The Bureau projects that employment of police and detectives will grow by 10 percent between 2008 and 2018. However, detectives and criminal investigators in particular can expect 17 percent job growth in that decade, the Bureau notes. Demand for more detectives will be spurred by population growth, which increases the occurrence of crime and creates a need for more detectives. Openings for detectives in local police departments will occur due to retirements, vacancies, and new positions created by employment growth, the Bureau shows. Detectives are paid more on average than lower-ranking police officers. The average annual salary for detectives and criminal investigators was $60,910 as of May 2008, with the middle 50 percent earning between $45,930 and $81,490, the Bureau revealed. Detectives often have the opportunity to earn higher salaries by working overtime.