Police Officer

What a Police Officer Does

Police officers help uphold social order and maintain public safety by protecting lives and property. They are responsible for responding to calls for service in a variety of situations, such as domestic violence, assault, noise violations, truancy, theft, burglary and shootings. They pursue and arrest people who break the law and issue citations to people who violate traffic laws or city code. Many police officers work patrol, where they drive through an assigned area, keeping an eye out for traffic violations or criminal activity. Some police officers conduct criminal investigations, interviewing victims and witnesses of crime, as well as collecting evidence at the scene of crimes. The larger the police department, the more specific a police officer's responsibilities are, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Police officers may work exclusively in drug violations, cyber crimes, crimes against children, animal welfare, organized crime, etc. Police officers are also required to complete paperwork each day in which they document any arrests, criminal evidence and witness statements. They work closely with state and county law enforcement to bring a stop to ongoing crime.

How to Become a Police Officer

All you need to become an entry-level police officer in some police departments is a high school diploma and the successful completion of a training program at the department's training academy, according to the Bureau. However, even small police departments prefer to hire high school graduates who have at least some postsecondary education, particularly in an area related to law enforcement. College courses in police science, criminal justice or administration of justice are especially useful. A significant number of applicants for entry-level police work are college graduates, the Bureau shows. Larger police departments are often more selective, requiring 1 to 2 years of college coursework or even a college degree, the Bureau explains. Classes in physical education or participation in sports is often useful in building the stamina and agility required of many police officers. Police academy, which is required of all new hires, usually lasts 12-14 weeks, the Bureau noted. In academy, recruits receive classroom instruction on laws, ordinances and civil rights as well as hands-on, supervised training in patrol, firearms, traffic control, self-defense, and first aid. Job candidates must also pass a psychological and physical evaluation, as well as agree to a criminal background check.

Career Outlook for Police Officers

Jobs for police officers should remain favorable, even though employment of police officers and detectives is only expected to grow by 10 percent between 2008 and 2018, according to the Bureau. Demand for more police officers will be driven primarily by population growth. As the population grows in rural and urban areas, police departments receive more calls for service and consequently require more officers as budgets allow. The best job opportunities will be at smaller, lower-paying police departments and in urban departments in high-crime areas, the Bureau notes. A college education, a military background and/or bilingual skills will make you a much stronger candidate for hire. The average annual salary for police and sheriff's patrol officers was $51,410 as of May 2008, with the middle 50 percent earning between $38,850 and $64,940 the Bureau shows. However, the average annual salary for police and detective supervisors was $75,490, revealing that police officers can earn higher salaries by moving up the ranks.