Police officers
work at all levels of government.
The term "cop," referring to a police officer, dates back to the mid-19th century, and comes from an English verb meaning "to catch." No matter what they're called, today's police officers play vital roles in protecting citizens and safeguarding property. Police officers work at all levels of government.
Work Type
The job of a police officer is to enforce the law and to protect people and property from criminals. There are several different levels of law enforcement in the United States, each with different officer responsibilities. At the city and county level, police officers spend a significant amount of time on patrol, watching for suspicious activity. When a crime occurs, police officers investigate by talking with all of the people involved and gathering relevant evidence. Officers use written reports to create detailed records of crimes.
Police officers at the state or federal level often have more specialized duties. State highway patrol officers are responsible for enforcing laws on state roads and use equipment such as radar speed guns to enforce traffic rules. Federal officers investigate violations of national law and are tasked with solving major crimes such as bank robberies and kidnappings.
In addition to patrol and investigation, many police departments have specialized divisions that are filled by uniquely qualified officers. For example, police officers who are part of a Specialized Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team use military-style techniques to deal with armed suspects and hostage situations. Other police officers work as detectives in "plain clothes," and investigate crimes where uniformed officers would draw unwanted attention.
Education and Training
The education and training requirements for police officers vary, depending on whether the position is at the local, state, or federal level. All officers, however, must have at least a high school diploma. For many officer positions, a college degree is also required. Degrees in fields such as psychology and criminal justice can be helpful for officers and provide a strong foundation for understanding the people who officers encounter. To qualify for a police officer job, candidates must also be in excellent physical shape and able to perform strenuous enforcement duties.
Police departments provide specialized training for officer recruits. During this training, new officers study relevant laws, in addition to investigation and enforcement techniques. The use of vehicles, weapons and emergency equipment is also part of police officer training.
Job Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment opportunities for police officers will increase at the same rate as the average for all careers over the next several years. Specifically, the bureau predicts a police officer career growth rate of 10 percent between 2008 and 2018. At the local level, many officer opportunities are projected to be available, while state and federal officer job openings will be more rare and more competitive.
Generally, the more education and experience a candidate has, the better the prospects for being hired into a police department. A bachelor's degree, military experience and the ability to speak multiple languages are all favorable for officer applicants.
Projected Earnings
Earnings for police officers vary based on the location and the responsibilities of the job. Generally, however, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that police patrol officers earned a median wage of $51,410 in 2008. The top 10 percent of patrol officers earned over $79,680. The highest median wage for patrol officers in 2008 was with the state government, followed by wages from local governments and the federal government.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics also indicates that detectives earned significantly more than patrol officers during 2008. The median wage for detectives, including federal special agents, was $60,910. The top 10 percent of these investigators earned $97,870. For detectives, the highest pay was from the federal government.
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