Significant Points
Police work can be dangerous and stressful.
Education requirements range from a high school diploma to a college degree
or higher.
Job opportunities in most local police departments will be excellent for
qualified individuals, while competition is expected for jobs in State and
Federal agencies.
Applicants with college training in police science or military police
experience will have the best opportunities.
Nature of the Work
People depend on police officers and detectives to protect their lives and
property. Law enforcement officers, some of whom are State or Federal special
agents or inspectors, perform these duties in a variety of ways depending on
the size and type of their organization. In most jurisdictions, they are
expected to exercise authority when necessary, whether on or off duty.
Police and detectives pursue and apprehend individuals who break the law
and then issue citations or give warnings. A large proportion of their time is
spent writing reports and maintaining records of incidents they encounter.
Most police officers patrol their jurisdictions and investigate any suspicious
activity they notice. Detectives, who are often called agents or special
agents, perform investigative duties such as gathering facts and collecting
evidence.
The daily activities of police and detectives differ depending on their
occupational specialty—such as police officer, game warden, or detective—and
whether they are working for a local, State, or Federal agency. Duties also
differ substantially among various Federal agencies, which enforce different
aspects of the law. Regardless of job duties or location, police officers and
detectives at all levels must write reports and maintain meticulous records
that will be needed if they testify in court.
Work environment.
Police and detective work can be very dangerous and stressful. In addition
to the obvious dangers of confrontations with criminals, police officers and
detectives need to be constantly alert and ready to deal appropriately with a
number of other threatening situations. Many law enforcement officers witness
death and suffering resulting from accidents and criminal behavior. A career
in law enforcement may take a toll on their private lives.
The jobs of some Federal agents such as U.S. Secret Service and DEA special
agents require extensive travel, often on very short notice. They may relocate
a number of times over the course of their careers. Some special agents in
agencies such as the U.S. Border Patrol work outdoors in rugged terrain for
long periods and in all kinds of weather.
Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement.
Most police and detectives learn much of what they need to know on the job,
often in their agency’s police academy. Civil service regulations govern the
appointment of police and detectives in most States, large municipalities, and
special police agencies, as well as in many smaller jurisdictions. Candidates
must be U.S. citizens, usually at least 20 years old, and must meet rigorous
physical and personal qualifications.
Education and training.
Applicants usually must have at least a high school education, and some
departments require 1 or 2 years of college coursework or, in some cases, a
college degree.
Law enforcement agencies encourage applicants to take courses or training
related to law enforcement subjects after high school. Many entry-level
applicants for police jobs have completed some formal postsecondary education,
and a significant number are college graduates. Many junior colleges,
colleges, and universities offer programs in law enforcement or administration
of justice.
Physical education classes and participating in sports are also helpful in
developing the competitiveness, stamina, and agility needed for many law
enforcement positions. Knowledge of a foreign language is an asset in many
Federal agencies and urban departments.
Many agencies pay all or part of the tuition for officers to work toward
degrees in criminal justice, police science, administration of justice, or
public administration and pay higher salaries to those who earn such a degree.
Other qualifications.
Civil service regulations govern the appointment of police and detectives
in most States, large municipalities, and special police agencies, as well as
in many smaller jurisdictions. Candidates must be U.S. citizens, usually at
least 20 years old, and must meet rigorous physical and personal
qualifications. Physical examinations for entrance into law enforcement often
include tests of vision, hearing, strength, and agility. Eligibility for
appointment usually depends on performance in competitive written examinations
and previous education and experience.
Candidates should enjoy working with people and meeting the public. Because
personal characteristics such as honesty, sound judgment, integrity, and a
sense of responsibility are especially important in law enforcement,
candidates are interviewed by senior officers, and their character traits and
backgrounds are investigated. In some agencies, candidates are interviewed by
a psychiatrist or a psychologist or given a personality test. Most applicants
are subjected to lie detector examinations or drug testing. Some agencies
subject sworn personnel to random drug testing as a condition of continuing
employment.
Advancement.
Police officers usually become eligible for promotion after a probationary
period ranging from 6 months to 3 years. In large departments, promotion may
enable an officer to become a detective or to specialize in one type of police
work, such as working with juveniles. Promotions to corporal, sergeant,
lieutenant, and captain usually are made according to a candidate’s position
on a promotion list, as determined by scores on a written examination and
on-the-job performance.
Continuing training helps police officers, detectives, and special agents
improve their job performance. Through police department academies, regional
centers for public safety employees established by the States, and Federal
agency training centers, instructors provide annual training in self-defense
tactics, firearms, use-of-force policies, sensitivity and communications
skills, crowd-control techniques, relevant legal developments, and advances in
law enforcement equipment.
Employment
Police and detectives held about 861,000 jobs in 2006. Seventy-nine percent
were employed by local governments. State police agencies employed about 11
percent, and various Federal agencies employed about 7 percent. A small
proportion worked for educational services, rail transportation, and contract
investigation and security services.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, police and detectives
employed by local governments primarily worked in cities with more than 25,000
inhabitants. Some cities have very large police forces, while thousands of
small communities employ fewer than 25 officers each.
Employment change.
Employment of police and detectives is expected to grow 11 percent over the
2006-16 decade, about as fast as the average for all occupations. A more
security-conscious society and population growth will contribute to the
increasing demand for police services
Job prospects.
Overall opportunities in local police departments will be excellent for
individuals who meet the psychological, personal, and physical qualifications.
In addition to openings from employment growth, many openings will be created
by the need to replace workers who retire and those who leave local agencies
for Federal jobs and private sector security jobs. There will be more
competition for jobs in Federal and State law enforcement agencies than for
jobs in local agencies. Less competition for jobs will occur in departments
that offer relatively low salaries or those in urban communities where the
crime rate is relatively high. Applicants with military experience or college
training in police science will have the best opportunities in local and State
departments. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree and several years of law
enforcement or military experience, especially investigative experience, will
have the best opportunities in Federal agencies.
Earnings
Police and sheriff’s patrol officers had median annual earnings of $47,460
in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $35,600 and $59,880. The
lowest 10 percent earned less than $27,310, and the highest 10 percent earned
more than $72,450. Median annual earnings were $43,510 in Federal Government,
$52,540 in State government, and $47,190 in local government.
In May 2006, median annual earnings of police and detective supervisors
were $69,310. The middle 50 percent earned between $53,900 and $83,940. The
lowest 10 percent earned less than $41,260, and the highest 10 percent earned
more than $104,410. Median annual earnings were $85,170 in Federal Government,
$68,990 in State government, and $68,670 in local government.
Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook
Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Police and Detectives, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos160.htm
(visited May 27, 2008).
