Police Career
If you've ever dreamed of solving crimes, protecting the innocent and ensuring public safety, then a career as a police officer might be right for you. Learning more about the different law enforcement career paths can help you decide how you can protect and serve the public.
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Commonalities
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Police forces share some common requirements, one of which is education. Typically, a police officer must have at least a high school diploma, and more departments today are requiring them s to have at least a two-year associate's degree in criminal justice. A prospective police officer must make application to a department, which will then send him or her on to a police academy for training. While at the academy, cadets undergo physical training and classroom education about legal procedures and the law in general. After graduation, a new police officer (usually called a "rookie") will be placed under the supervision of a superior officer for a period of time ranging from a few months to several years.
Municipal Police
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Municipal police are the law enforcement departments of towns and cities and are the most common of police careers. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 79 percent of all law enforcement personnel are employed as municipal police. Typically, police forces offer advancement through a combination of time in service, awards and merits, and a test for the next rank. These ranks are similar to military ranks (sergeant, lieutenant, captain, for example) and determine the level of responsibility and pay a police officer receives.
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Detectives
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Detectives could be part of the municipal police force, or they could be employed by state police departments or other law enforcement agencies. They investigate crimes like robbery, assault and homicide for presentation to a district attorney's office for prosecution. Detectives typically are trained in behavioral studies, criminology and other procedures that allow them to execute their jobs properly. They also interview victims and suspects, corroborate information, or work undercover operations to obtain evidence and solve crimes.
State Police
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Every state except Hawai'i has state police, sometimes called "highway patrol" or "state troopers." As a state police officer, you would be responsible for patrolling assigned motor causeways or areas, assisting smaller municipalities in enforcing state laws, issuing citations or making arrests, and ensuring the safety of the motorists on the highway by escorting some vehicles or guarding work areas. Advancement in the state police ranks is similar to municipal police and is based on seniority, test scores and commendations.
Prospects and Earnings
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for police is expected to increase by 11percent between 2006 and 2016. BLS, also notes that municipal police (including state police) earned between $35,600 and $59,880 annually in 2006 while detectives earned between $43,920 and $76,350. Detective or police supervisors earned between $53,900 and $83,940 annually during that same period.
Beyond the Police
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Some officers with distinguished records can go on to federal law enforcement agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), or the Bureau of Immigration and Citizenship Enforcement (ICE, formerly INS). Federal positions are based on the General Service (or "GS") scale and entry-level federal law enforcement agents begin with a base salary of $48,159, yet they earned about $60,199 a year after additional bonuses such as "availability bonuses" and other incentives are factored in.
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