Job Report Police and Detectives

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.