Police officers have one of the most exciting and fulfilling jobs in our society. Yet, there are various kinds of police jobs, so young recruits who are considering joining the police force may want to consider all their options.
The average police officer who works at your local police department is trained to uphold your civic laws, protect the lives and properties of your town’s citizens, and respond to emergency situations. They must patrol areas that are assigned to them and look for suspicious activity which they will investigate. They are also required to apprehend people who are breaking the law and issue citations. A great deal of time is taken up with filling out paperwork and writing reports about the situations the encounter while on duty.
More On the Job Description of a Police Officer
Some police officers have specialized education or training which gives them a unique position on the force. For example: forensics, canine training, or important language skills. Some officers are assigned to special units such as the SWAT team, motorcycle patrol or horseback. Each geographic location has its own unique needs and will look for police officers who can help fulfill them.
On the state level, there are state troopers and highway patrol officers who enforce motor vehicle laws and seek out criminals to arrest them. State officers can be called in to assist the local agencies when they need them, especially in small towns or lightly populated areas. State police can be either uniformed police officers or work in plain clothes to investigate criminal activity or perform administrative duties. Police detectives wear plain clothes and are assigned specific cases to investigate and gather evidence for. As a general rule, detectives will specialize in a particular kind of crime.
Another option for young recruits is becoming a fish and game warden. These officers enforce the laws pertaining to fishing, hunting and boating. They must patrol the outdoor recreation areas where these activities take place and investigate complaints or accidents that are called in.
Most police officers work forty hours a week, and are often called upon to work overtime. Those with less seniority are usually stuck with the weekend and holiday shifts. However, all police officers are generally required to be armed and ready to respond to an emergency even when off duty.
Keep in mind that while police work is exciting, it can also be dangerous. During the course of the day a police officer may be subjected to emergency situations including natural disasters, criminal activity, and accidents. Police officers have one of the highest rates of injury at work. Even if their own health and safety is not threatened, the job is stressful enough that, it can cause serious problems in their personal lives if the stress is not managed properly. Witnessing death, violent crime, abuse and other horrific situations day after day can take a serious toll on an officer’s mental health.
Being a police officer is not easy, and a police officer’s education can be stressful. At the end of the day, people become police officers because they believe in the law and want to be part of enforcing it. If you’re considering police work as a career, one of the best things you can do before committing to the recruiting process is to sit down with a seasoned police officer and talk to them about their experiences. With so many police-themed television shows and movies it can be easy to romanticize the work. Talking to real officers and asking questions is the best way to get an honest look at what you may be getting in to.