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WORKING IN THE GOVERNMENT

Working as a Police Officer

A police officer's duty is to protect and serve.  They primarily are responsible for protecting / saving lives whilst also arresting and prosecuting people who break the law.  Other important duties include responding to emergency calls, providing first aid to accident victims and even issuing fines and tickets. However, most police officers will spend their time investigating suspicious activity such as burglaries, robberies, thefts, drug trafficking and other criminal activities.

Detective...

WORKING IN THE GOVERNMENT

Working as a Police Officer

A police officer's duty is to protect and serve.  They primarily are responsible for protecting / saving lives whilst also arresting and prosecuting people who break the law.  Other important duties include responding to emergency calls, providing first aid to accident victims and even issuing fines and tickets. However, most police officers will spend their time investigating suspicious activity such as burglaries, robberies, thefts, drug trafficking and other criminal activities.

Detectives, sometimes called agents or special agents, collect evidence of possible crimes and gather facts with a view to mounting a case against a criminal and then hopefully arresting and completing a successful prosecution.  The daily activities of detectives vary, and they carry out a wide range of activities, such as collecting evidence, planning investigations, conducting interviews and arresting criminals.  Detectives usually specialise in solving all sorts of crimes, including murder and fraud. 

Detectives and police officers must produce reports and keep detailed records required to testify in court. Uniformed police officers have general law enforcement duties and they wear uniforms that allow them to be easily recognized by the public. Most wear a badge, a police hat and a blue or black uniform with a white collar and badge number.

Police officers respond to both emergency and non-emergency calls and regularly patrol the streets of the city as well as other public areas such as schools, parks, churches and public buildings.  On patrol, officers search for clues to criminal activity, conduct searches, arrest suspected perpetrators.  Officers, especially those who work in large departments, can work as a patrol officer, officer in a special unit or as the person in charge of the patrol unit. A police officer can also go on patrol with other officers in the same department or in different departments.

A police officer's work duties will differ at the local, state, and federal levels as they all enforce various aspects of the law.  State police, sometimes called state troops or highway police, have special geographical and enforcement powers. They have the authority to work anywhere in the state and are often asked to help with traffic enforcement, traffic control, road safety and other duties.

Federal fish and game wardens are often referred to as federal wildlife officers by their state and local counterparts at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  They conduct search and rescue operations, investigate complaints and accidents, patrol fishing and hunting areas, inform the public about outdoor laws and investigate and report crimes.

Federal officials perform many of the same duties as their state and local counterparts, but they also have jurisdiction over the entire country. The following are federal agencies where certain types of laws are enforced by officials or agents. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents are the main federal investigators enforcing more than 200 categories of federal law and conducting sensitive national security investigations. 

Many federal officials are highly specialized in their tasks, such as special investigators in charge of special investigations, special investigators and special operations officers, or special investigators.  Secret Service agents responsible for protecting the US President and other senior officials. Other Secret Service agents investigating financial crimes, such as the FBI special agent in charge of the National Security Division.

How to become a Police Officer

Most police officers and detectives must complete high school or college education before they are eligible to be accepted into basic training, prior work in the military can also be considered an advantage.  Candidates must meet strict physical and personal qualifications standards and must be at least 18 years old. Police officers must not only be strong enough to physically capture offenders, but also be quick in using their hands to deploy weapons when necessary.  Prospective candidates should also note that a conviction for a crime or drug use will usually disqualify a candidate.

To work as an agent for the federal agencies typically they will require a bachelor's degree, but state and local authorities encourage applicants to continue their education at the school while attending law enforcement courses and training.   Law enforcement and criminal justice programs offer a wide range of courses and training for law enforcement officers, from basic to advanced training.

Many agencies offer financial support to officers seeking a degree. Federal police officers receive extensive training at the US Department of Justice's National Law Enforcement Officers Training Academy. The training covers a wide range of courses, from basic to advanced training in criminal justice. Recruits also receive a variety of specialized training such as physical training and mental health training.

Some police departments have special training programs for people interested in a career in law enforcement who are not yet of the age to become an officer. Cadets work as clerks and attend classes until they reach the minimum age, after which they can apply to the regular troops.

Police officers are usually entitled to promotion after a probationary period, but the positions on a candidate's promotion list are determined by the results of written exams and work results.

In larger departments, promotions can allow officers to become detectives, work with young people or specialise in areas such as child protection, mental health or drug and alcohol treatment.

Police detectives must be able to find the best way to solve a wide range of problems quickly. They must understand the nature of the crime, its causes and consequences, and be willing to help the public. Police detectives must also be prepared to talk to people when they gather facts about crimes and provide details of specific incidents in writing, as well as information about the crime scene. 

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