Police Officer

Job Description

Police officers are law enforcement officers who serve to protect human lives and property. While their duties can be varied, their main goal is to find individuals who break the law and determine a punishment based on the crime committed. Police officers deal with various types of crimes and scenarios, from traffic violations, theft to homicides. Depending on the crime committed and its severity, police officers may give warnings, tickets or take individuals to jail. Much of police officers’ time is spent patrolling and investigating any suspicious behavior they see, as well as responding to emergency calls. Police officers are typically on-the-go, reporting to crime scenes, writing reports and testifying in court, when needed. The duties of police officers varies within their designated specialty, such as sheriffs, highway patrol officers or detectives. In addition, they are split up by local, state and federal agencies. Most state and local law enforcement agencies are organized into jurisdictions, where officers are assigned a specific area to patrol alone or with a partner.

Educational Requirements

In order to become a police officer, you need to complete the necessary educational and training steps before entering the field. While many police departments and agencies do not require their officers to have more than a high school diploma, it has become more common, and is highly encouraged, to earn a college degree. Many police officers obtain an associate degree in police work or criminal justice, which takes about two years to complete. During your program, you will learn about law enforcement, investigations and civil rights to enhance your understanding of local, state and federal laws and the duties of police officers. As in all U.S. law enforcement officers, prospective police officers must be U.S. citizens, at least 21 years old and succeed in physical and personality tests. They also need to have a clean criminal background and pass all drug and polygraph tests. For more information on police work and to view officer jobs, visit The National Law Enforcement Recruiters Association.

Career Outlook and Salary

The career and salary outlook for police officers should continue to be positive during the 2008-2018 decade. During these 10 years, employment of police officers is expected to grow 10 percent, which will create 84,700 new police jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This significant job increase is a direct effect of America’s population growth, which will increase the likelihood of criminal acts to occur. The employment rate is determined by the level of government spending and depends on the police officer’s location. Job competition is expected to be high for police officers in state and federal agencies. In addition, jobs will be the most plentiful and easiest to get in local police departments that pay low salaries or in urban communities with higher crime rates. Police officers can also expect a favorable salary outlook over the next 10 years, as well as opportunities for promotions, benefits and special allowances. Police officers made an average salary of $51,410 in 2008, according to the Bureau.