What Kind of Jobs Are There for a Police Officer?
A 2007 federal report entitled "Where the Jobs Are: Critical Opportunities for America" listed the government's single largest projected hiring sector through 2012 as law enforcement and security. Law enforcement officers are almost always in demand, and there are a number of different types of police jobs available to qualified applicants.
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Qualifications
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To become a police officer, you need at least a basic high school education, although you are much more likely to be considered for a position if you have an associate's degree, a bachelor's degree or previous military experience. Applicants must be at least 20 years old and pass a background check, a civil service exam and a range of physical exams.
Uniformed Officers
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Uniformed police officers handle general law enforcement responsibilities. They are assigned to patrol a certain area, where they respond to distress calls, mediate problems, investigate minor crimes and provide first aid for minor injuries.
Urban police officers work for the city in large departments, while sheriffs and deputy sheriffs work for the county in small offices. State troopers are police officers with jurisdiction over the whole state. They mainly patrol highways and enforce traffic laws.
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Detective
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Detectives investigate everything from homicide, to fraud, to sex crimes. A detective usually works in a specialized department dedicated to the solving of a specific type of crime. Detectives do surveillance, interview suspects and witnesses and participate in raids and sting operations. Detectives can work on a state or federal level and are usually promoted from uniformed officers.
Fish and Game Warden
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Fish and game wardens are officers of the state. They are responsible for enforcing laws that promote the conservation and preservation of wildlife. They patrol fishing and hunting areas, cite and arrest offenders, and participate in search and rescues. They also collect information that helps them monitor the general health of the wildlife in their area.
Homeland Security
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The Department of Homeland Security offers a number of police-related jobs. Border patrol officers protect and defend the United State's 8,000 miles of land and water borders. Immigration and customs enforcement agents investigate potential terrorist activity, enforce customs and immigration laws and protect federal buildings. Immigration inspectors interview and examine non-citizens entering the United States.
Parole/ Probation Officer
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Parole and probation officers have a similar job. They both monitor the activities of criminals who have been conditionally released into the community. Probation officers deal with offenders who have been assigned probation instead of jail time, and parole officers supervise offenders who have served time in prison and have been released.
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