What Do Police Officers Do

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Individuals at least 21 years old can enroll in a police academy if they hold a high school or equivalent diploma. Some candidates have an associate or bachelor’s degree or earn extra college credits. Candidates must also be U.S. citizens and have no drug or felony convictions.

Because police work tends to include many physical demands, police academy students need to meet specific physical requirements. The work sometimes involves danger and the risk of injury or death. It requires alertness and the ability to confront scenes of violence and suffering.

Despite the physical and mental demands, many police officers find their jobs meaningful and rewarding because they get to help people.

Your Rights And How To Reduce Risk To Yourself

• You should not invite the officer into your house. Talk with the officers through the door and ask them to show you identification. You do not have to let them in unless they can show you a warrant signed by a judicial officer that lists your address as a place to be searched or that has your name on it as the subject of an arrest warrant .
• Ask the officer to slip the warrant under the door or hold it up to the window so you can read it. A search warrant allows police to enter the address listed on the warrant, but officers can only search the areas and for the items listed. An arrest warrant has the name of the person to be arrested.
• Even if officers have a warrant, you have the right to remain silent. You should not answer questions or speak to the officers while they are in your house conducting their search. Stand silently and observe what they do, where they go, and what they take. Write down everything you observed as soon as you can.

What Is A Police Officer’s Salary And Growth Potential

According to the BLS, police officers and detectives made a median annual salary of $67,290, as of May 2020. This compares to $59,340 for other law enforcement workers and $41,950 for all occupations. Police officers working in state or federal government can make more while professionals working as fish or game wardens tend to earn less. The BLS reports that the highest-paid officers made a median annual salary of $113,860.

Police ranks look similar to hierarchical levels in the military. At the start of their careers, most individuals start as technicians or officers. They typically move up the ranks and earn more pay, with some reaching the position of police chief. Police ranks vary by region or locality, but most generally follow this progression:

• Police technician
• Police officer, patrol officer, or police detective
• Police corporal

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Do You Need A Degree To Be A Cop

To be completely clear, formal education, such as an associateâs degree or a bachelorâs degree is not actually a strict requirement for becoming a police officer. However, many departments across the country are requiring at least a two-year degree, while others are placing a strong emphasis on hiring 4-year college graduates.

Even when not an official requirement for a job opening, having your college degree will be immensely helpful in the hiring process. Despite the fact that these are extremely challenging jobs, there can be lots of competition for positions, so having a formal degree, in addition to the required police training, will make you a more attractive job candidate.

Not only will a degree enhance your chances of being hired, it will also increase your chances of being promoted. At some point in your career, you may want to move into leadership roles, such as a captain or sergeant having a bachelors degree in an appropriate area will make you more likely to find promotion.

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Military Experience In Lieu Of A Degree

The educational requirement mandated by hiring agencies is typically waived for candidates who have previously served in the military. Veterans of the US armed forces or other uniformed services are given priority, mainly because their training, experience and learned skills translate well into law enforcement. Candidates with military experience must prove that their retirement has been finalized, that they were honorably discharged, and that they are physically, mentally, and emotionally fit to serve as police officers.

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Police Officer Career Video Transcript

Police patrol officers monitor community safety and respond to calls from the public. Whether on foot, on wheels, or on horseback, the job of patrol officers is to be alert for any threat to public safety, from enforcing traffic laws, to helping a lost child, or responding to an unfolding and highly dangerous situation. Police officers are licensed to carry guns, which comes with great responsibility. They must pass rigorous academic, psychological, and physical exams to prove they have what it takes to balance their responsibilities. Even in life-threatening situations, officers need to stay calm, think clearly and make good on-the-spot judgments.

While Hollywood makes police work seem constantly action-packed, most patrol officers will tell you the job is often very routine. Police work requires patience and paperwork, documenting every incident in detail. Officers are drug-free and have no felony convictions on their record, and those out in the community are expected to be physically fit. Some departments require a high school diploma, while others prefer a college degree in criminal justice, although other majors are often accepted. Speaking a second language is a plus. Police patrol officers are true public servants who are expected to conscientiously and courageously serve and protect.

The Job We Prepare Police For

This all adds up to a fundamental problem with policing in America: We prepare police for a role vastly different from the one they actually play in society.

A 2016 national study of the training of 135,000 recruits across 664 local police academies found that, on average, officers each received 168 hours of training in firearm skills, self-defense, and use of force out of 840 total hours. Another 42 hours were spent on criminal investigations, 38 on operating an emergency vehicle, 86 on legal education aimed primarily at force amendment law, and hundreds more on basic operations and self-improvement. Topics like domestic violence , mental illness , and mediation and conflict management received a fraction of trainee time. Others, like homelessness and substance abuse, were so rare they didnt make the data set.

Those averages mask an even more worrying reality. Almost half of American police academies utilize what is called the military model of instruction a high-stress, physically and psychologically excruciating approach traditionally used to train soldiers for battle. Another third use a hybrid approach that draws heavily on the military model.

The amount of firearms and use of force training in our academies is completely at odds with the problem we most often ask police to deal with, says Ratcliffe, the former UK police officer turned Temple criminologist. Police training is simply not reflective of the role of police in our society.

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Work Environment About This Section

Police and detectives held about 808,200 jobs in 2021. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up police and detectives was distributed as follows:

Police and detective work can be physically demanding, stressful, and dangerous. Officers must be alert and ready to react throughout their entire shift. Officers regularly work at crime and accident scenes and encounter suffering and the results of violence. Although a career in law enforcement may be stressful, many officers find it rewarding to help members of their communities.

Some federal agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Secret Service, require extensive travel, often on short notice. These agents may relocate a number of times over the course of their careers. Other agencies, such as U.S. Border Patrol, may require work outdoors in rugged terrain and in all kinds of weather.

What Is A Good Police Officer Salary

A: The answer to that question really varies depending on what someones specific needs are, where they live, how much education / experience they have etc. However we typically think of police officer salaries between US$60k-$120k USD per year which could allow people to get by comfortably without having to worry about paying their bills each month but also not being able to afford luxuries such as vacations every other week .

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Graduate From Higher Secondary School

To become an officer in the police force, you can graduate from higher secondary school in any academic stream. Most job roles within the police force require 10+2 level education. You can pursue entry-level posts like constable and head constable after completing matriculation or passing the 10th standard board exam. Constables enter the force based on the results of a state-level recruitment exam.

What Does A Police Officer Do

The duties of a police officer largely depend on where they are located. In large cities, officers are usually given very specific job duties or will be assigned to a fraud, murder, drug-trafficking, or rape unit. Each unit has a specific goal, and the officers within the unit are trained solely for that objective.

Police officers in rural areas rarely have the opportunity to specialize in any given area of law enforcement. Due to lower crime rates and the relatively small population, officers in townships, co-ops, and other rural areas take care of any or all law enforcement tasks, from simple traffic infractions to child protection or murder cases.

A police officer’s primary duty is to maintain public order. Patrol officers on foot, in a car, or even on horseback spend their days dealing with people who break the law. There are the typical traffic violations that need to be dealt with, of course, but police officers also receive calls to investigate burglaries or other serious crimes.

Police officers may give a warning or citation or, if the offence is serious, they have the authority to arrest and detain a suspect. Dangerous circumstances may arise if the suspect carries a weapon, takes a hostage, or flees in an attempt to resist arrest. Police officers, however, are trained to defend both themselves and possible victims. They keep streets and neighbourhoods safe, even if that safety requires them to be in situations where they may have to put their lives on the line.

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Police Officer Application Process

The application process itself also requires some time in order to be completed. First of all, you need to go through the job openings in order to find the best option for you. Once you land on the right offer, you need to make sure that you meet all the listed criteria and then submit your application. Follow strictly the requirements about the application submission and fill in your details correctly and completely. Failing to do so may disqualify you at the very beginning of the hiring process or at a later stage.

The processing time of your application depends on the agency you have chosen. Note that there are a lot of applications, so it takes time to process them all and get back to the candidates. Each police department has its own time-frame and procedures but generally, it takes about three to four months for an application to be fully reviewed, checked and a decision to be taken whether the applicant shall proceed with the hiring process or not.

It is advisable to utilize this time for getting prepared for the next steps of the hiring process the exams that you need to take. You can enroll in an online police exam preparation course like the one offered by PoliceExam911. You can learn how to master the polygraph test or check the Mastering the Police Interview course so that you are ready for those elements. You can also start your physical training and be ready to pass the physical abilities test.

Police Overtime Pay Benefits And Pensions

When considering police salaries, its important to take into account police overtime, healthcare, sick time and vacation benefits, and police pensions.

Federal police receive much more generous health insurance and pension benefits than any other law enforcement personnel. Police officers usually work on holidays and have the option of receiving extra time off credits or overtime pay on those days. There may be other incentive compensation for fluency in a foreign language, holding an associate, bachelors, or masters degree, and attainment of special training certificates.

Detectives in particular earn significant amounts in overtime pay because of the extended hours they work. Uniformed patrol officers earn overtime pay for cases that require working past their usual off-duty time and for appearing to testify in court.

Other benefits that should be taken into account with police salaries are whether or not the agency will pay for additional training and coursework if officers want to go back to school and further their education in law enforcement work.

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Police Officer Education Prerequisites

To become a police officer, youll need these education prerequisites:

• Be a U.S. citizen over 20 years old
• Have earned a high school diploma or a GED
• Must pass several competitive written and physical examinations
• If youre thinking of working at the state or federal level, youll need a college degree.

Become A Police Officer: Step

In Georgia, the peace officer certification process is regulated by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council . Therefore, some of the processes and paperwork you must complete will be through POST, while others will be completed directly through the GPSTC regional academy where you will receive your training.

Students attending basic training who are not employed by a law enforcement agency are referred to aspre-service candidates. Below are the steps that pre-service candidates must take before being accepted into a police academy to become certified as a Peace Officer in the state of Georgia.

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Cooperation With Other Police Officers & Agencies

Police Officers will cooperate with all legally authorized agencies and their representatives in the pursuit of justice. An Officer or agency may be one among many organizations that may provide law enforcement services to a jurisdiction. It is imperative that a Police Officer assist colleagues fully and completely with respect and consideration at all times.

Step : Interview With The Academy Manager

After completing the above steps, your chosen academy will contact you to schedule an appointment for an interview with the Academy Manager. This should be considered a formal interview, so please dress accordingly. The Academy Manager will determine the candidates demeanor and suitability to become a certified Peace Officer in the State of Georgia.

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Vigil For Qld Police Officers Killed In Horror Attack

A policewoman who survived a deadly shooting at a rural property in Queensland has paid tribute to the victims at a candlelight vigil.

Constable Keely Brough stood with members of Queensland Police at a memorial in Chinchilla on Friday night, honouring Constables Matthew Arnold, Rachel McCrow and resident Alan Dare.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Emotional vigil held for police officer killed in Queensland shooting.

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The trio were gunned down during an ambush at a rural property at Wieambilla, about three hours west of Brisbane, on Monday.

Killers Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train died in a subsequent firefight with heavily armed tactical officers.

Constable Brough and her colleague Randall Kirk escaped the ordeal with minor injuries.

Brough dived for cover in long grass as shot were fired at the officers at the Wieambilla property.

Her colleague Kirk managed to reach the police car and call for help.

Neighbour, 58-year-old Alan Dare was also killed after he arrived at the property to offer help.

Around 400 people attended the vigil at Illoura Village laying flowers and lighting candles in memory of those who died.

Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Charysse Pond said it was an extremely difficult time for the police force and the locals.

Its very challenging, its very challenging. But its events like this and the community support that certainly makes our job worthwhile, she said.

– With AAP

Explore Police Officer Education Options Learn About Police Education Options And Find Out What Police Officer Jobs May Be Available To You

Police officer education can help prepare you for work as one of your citys dedicated law enforcement agents.

Youll maintain law and order, collect evidence, and conduct criminal investigations. You might be patrolling a neighborhood to keep residents safe, responding to a call for help, or participating in a SWAT team raid.

If youve ever thought of becoming a police officer, youll want to know what your police education will prepare you for:

• Urban police officers have general law enforcement duties including maintaining regular patrols and responding to calls for help. Many are assigned to patrol a specific area, such as a business district or residential neighborhood.
• Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs enforce the law on the county level. Sheriffs, who are elected to their posts, perform duties similar to those of a local or county police chief.
• Detectives gather facts and collect evidence for criminal cases. They conduct interviews, examine records, observe the activities of suspects, and participate in raids or arrests.
• State police officers, also known as highway patrol officers, arrest criminals statewide and patrol highways to enforce motor vehicle laws and regulations. At the scene of accidents, they may direct traffic, give first aid, or call for emergency equipment.

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