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Job Report - Police And Detectives
Published 1994
Mascor Publishing Co.
P.O. Box 8308
Silver Spring, MD 20907
Nature of the Work
The safety of our Nation's cities, towns, and highways greatly depends on the work
of police and detectives, whose responsibilities range from controlling traffic to
preventing
and investigating crimes. Whether on or off duty, these officers are expected to exercise
their authority whenever necessary.
As civilian police department employees and private security personnel increasingly
assume routine police duties, police and detectives are able to spend more time fighting
serious crime. Police and detectives are also becoming more involved in public relations--
increasing public confidence in the police and instructing the public in the best ways to
help
the police fight crime.
Police and detectives who work in small communities and rural areas have many duties.
In the course of a day's work, they may direct traffic at the scene of a fire, investigate
a
housebreaking, and give first aid to an accident victim. In a large police department, by
contrast, officers usually are assigned to a specific type of duty. Most officers are
detailed
either to patrol or to traffic duty; smaller numbers are assigned to special work such as
accident prevention or operation of communications systems. Others are experts in
chemical and microscopic analysis, firearms identification, and handwriting and
fingerprint
identification. In very large cities, a few officers may work with special units such as
mounted and motorcycle police, harbor and border patrols, helicopter patrols, canine
corps,
mobile rescue teams, and youth aid services.
Detectives and special agents are plainclothes investigators who 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 (sometimes called State troopers or highway patrol officers)
patrol highways and enforce laws and regulations that govern their use. They issue traffic
tickets to motorists who violate the law. At the scene of an accident, they direct
traffic, give
first aid, call for emergency equipment including ambulances, and write reports which may
be used to determine the cause of the accident. In addition, State police officers provide
services to motorists on the highways. For example, they radio for road service for
drivers
with mechanical trouble, direct tourists to their destination, or give information about
lodging, restaurants,and tourists attractions.
State police officers also provide traffic assistance and control during road repairs,
fires, and other emergencies, as well as during special occurrences such as parades and
sports events. They sometimes check the weight of commercial vehicles, conduct driver
examinations, and give information on highway safety to the public.
In addition to highway responsibilities, State police in the majority of States also
enforce criminal laws. In communities and counties that do not have a local police force
or
a large sheriff's department, the State police are the primary law enforcement agency,
investigating crimes such as burglary or assault. They also may help city or county police
catch lawbreakers and control civil disturbances. State highway patrols, however, normally
are restricted to apprehending criminals on State highways, and to vehicle safety and
traffic
matters.
Most new police recruits begin on patrol duty, riding in a police vehicle or walking on
"foot" patrol. They may work alone or with other officers in such varied areas
as congested
business districts or outlying residential neighborhoods. In any case, new officers become
thoroughly familiar with conditions throughout their area and, while on patrol, remain
alert
for anything unusual. They note suspicious circumstances, such as open windows or lights
in vacant buildings, as well as hazards to public safety such as burned-out street lights
or
fallen trees. Officers enforce traffic regulations and also watch for stolen automobiles.
At
regular intervals, officers report to police headquarters from call boxes, radios, or
walkie-
talkies.
Police and detectives also write reports and maintain police records. They may
testify in court when their arrests result in legal action. Some officers, such as
division or
bureau chiefs, are responsible for training or certain kinds of criminal investigations,
and
those who command police operations in an assigned area have administrative and
supervisory duties.
Working Conditions
Police and detectives usually work 40 hours a week. Because police protection must
be provided around the clock in all but the smallest communities, some officers work
weekends, holidays, and nights. Police officers are subject to call any time their
services
are needed and may work overtime during emergencies.
Police officers may have to work outdoors for long periods in all kinds of weather.
The injury rate among police and detectives is higher than in many occupations and
reflects
the risks officers take in pursuing speeding motorists, apprehending criminals, and
dealing
with public disorders.
Employment
Police and detectives held about 517,000 jobs in 1990. Most were employed by
local governments, primarily in cities with more than 25,000 inhabitants. Some cities have
very large police forces, while hundreds of small communities employ fewer than 25
officers
each. State police and investigative agencies employed about 10 percent of the officers
and detectives; various Federal agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and
the Secret Service, employed an additional 5 percent.
Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement
Civil service regulations govern the appointment of police and detectives in
practically all States and large cities and in many small ones. Candidates must be U.S.
citizens, usually at least 21 years of age, and must meet rigorous physical and personal
qualifications. Eligibility for appointment depends on performance in competitive written
examinations as well as on education and experience. Physical examinations often include
tests of vision, strength, and agility.
Because personal characteristics such as honesty, good judgement, and a sense
of responsibility are especially important in police and detective work, candidates are
interviewed by a senior officer at police headquarters, and their character traits and
background are investigated. In some police departments, candidates also may be
interviewed by a psychiatrist or a psychologist, or be given a personality test. Although
police and detectives work independently, they must perform their duties in accordance
with
laws and departmental rules. They should enjoy working with people and serving the
public.
In large police departments, where most jobs are found, applicants usually must
have a high school education. An increasing number of cities require some college
training,
and some hire law enforcement students as police interns. A few jobs, such as special
agents for the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the Internal Revenue Service, require a
college degree. A few police departments accept applicants who have less than a high
school education as recruits, particularly if they have worked in a field related to law
enforcement.
More and more, police departments are encouraging applicants to take post-high
school training in law enforcement. Many entrants to police and detective jobs have
completed some formal postsecondary education; a significant number are college
graduates. Many junior colleges, colleges, and universities offer programs in law
enforcement or administration of justice. Other courses helpful in preparing for a police
career include psychology, counseling, English, American history, public administration,
public relations, sociology, business law, chemistry, physics, and driver education.
Physical
education and sports are especially helpful in developing the stamina and agility needed
for police work. Knowledge of a foreign language is an asset in certain areas.
Some large cities hire high school graduates who are still in their teens as civilian
police cadets or trainees. They do clerical work and attend classes and are appointed to
the regular force at age 21 if qualified.
Before their first assignments, officers usually go through a period of training. In
small communities, recruits work for a short time with experienced officers. In State and
large city police departments, they get more formal training that may last several weeks
or
a few months. This training includes classroom instruction in constitutional law and civil
rights, State laws and local ordinances, and accident investigation. Recruits also receive
training and supervised experience in patrol, traffic control, use of firearms,
self-defense,
first aid, and handling emergencies.
Police officers usually become eligible for promotion after a probationary period
ranging from 6 months to 3 years. In a large department, promotion may allow an officer
to become a detective or specialize in one type of police work such as laboratory analysis
of evidence, traffic control, communications, or working with juveniles. Promotions to
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.
Many types of training help police officers and detectives improve their job
performance and advancement. Through training given at police department academies
and colleges, officers keep abreast of crowd-control techniques, civil defense, legal
developments that affect their work, and advances in law enforcement equipment. Many
police departments offer higher salaries and pay all or part of the tuition for officers
to work
toward college associate and bachelor's degrees in law enforcement, police science,
administration of justice, or public administration.
Job Outlook
Employment of police officers and detectives is expected to increase about as fast
as the average for all occupations through the year 2000 due to the increase in the
Nation's
population and police protection needs. However, employment growth will be tempered by
increased use of civilian police department employee's in parking enforcement and various
clerical, administrative, and technical support positions. In addition, private security
firms
will increasingly assume some routine police duties such as crowd surveillance at airports
and other public places. Although turnover of police and detective jobs is among the
lowest
of all occupations, the need to replace workers who retire, transfer to other occupations,
or
stop working for other reasons will be the source of most job openings.
Police work is attractive to many. The job frequently is challenging and involves
much responsibility. Furthermore, in some communities, police officers may retire with a
pension to pursue a second career before the age 50. Although written examinations and
strict physical requirements always eliminate many applicants, competition is expected to
remain keen for job openings through the year 2000. Most State and local police
departments have long lists of qualified candidates. The outlook should be best for
persons
having some college training in law enforcement.
The level of government spending influences the employment of police officers and
detectives. Layoffs are rare because early retirements enable most staffing cuts to be
handled through attrition. However, police officers who lose their jobs from budget cuts
usually have little difficulty finding jobs with other police departments.
Earnings
According to a 1990 survey by the International Personnel Management Association,
police patrol officers had a median annual salary of $21,425 and could reach an average
maximum of $27,770 a year after about 6 years of service. Some officers with longer
service may be eligible to receive additional "longevity pay" averaging about
$1,560 a year.
Earnings vary by region and the size of the police department. Larger departments
generally pay higher salaries. Police officers and detectives who work in the West earn
somewhat higher salaries, while those employed in the South earn somewhat less.
The law requires that overtime be paid to those police officers and detectives who
average 43 or more hours a week during their work period--which ranges from 7 to 28 days.
In 1990, starting FBI agents earned about $27,350 a year, and starting U.S. Treasury
Department agents earned about $16,325 or $20,350 a year. Salaries of experienced FBI
agents started at around $42,750, while supervisory agents started at around $50,550 a
year. Salaries of experienced U.S. Treasury Department agents started at $36,000, while
supervisory agents started at $42,800.
Police departments usually provide officers with special allowances for uniforms and
furnish revolvers, night-sticks, handcuffs, and other required equipment. Because police
officers generally are covered by liberal pension plans, many retire at half pay after 20
or
25 years of service.
Related Occupations
Police officers maintain law and order in the Nation's cities, towns,and rural areas.
Workers in related law enforcement occupations include guards, bailiffs, correction
officers,
deputy sheriffs, fire marshals, fish and game wardens, and U.S. marshals.
Sources of Additional Information
Information about entrance requirements may be obtained from Federal, State, and
local civil service commissions or police departments.
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