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Become a Police OfficerLooking to become a police officer? Police work is dangerous and stressful; however, people depend on police officers to protect their lives and their property. It is a noble profession and one that is necessary in our society. We all cont on police officers to ensure stability and uphold the law. Investigate law enforcement careers if you: • Enjoy working with people What are the Education Requirements to Become a Police Officer? Most police officers learn much of that they need to know on the job. However, certain educational requirements do exist. A high school diploma is a must, with one, two or fours years of college preferred. Courses in law enforcement, law, administration of justice and criminal justice are recommended. Physical education classes and participation in spots are helpful as physical fitness and endurance are critical for performance on the job. Those who want to become a police officer will have to participate in 12 to 14 month training at a police academy. At the academy, police officers learn about constitutional law, civil rights, state and local laws and accident investigation. Hands on experience in patrol, traffic control, self-defense, first aid and emergency response is also part of the education. Important Note: Many agencies pay for officer education such as degree in criminal justice, administration of justice, criminal psychology and public administration and give higher salaries to those who earn an advance degree. Utilize this offer when you are ready to advance your career. Work of Police Officers When you become a police officer, the majority of your time will be devoted to apprehending individuals who break the law, issuing citations, warnings as well as writing reports of these incidences. Police officers patrol their assigned neighborhoods and jurisdictions, monitor any suspicious activity, respond to calls for service and maintain safety. As a police officer your days would consist of various activities such as directing traffic at the scene of an accident, investigating burglary, giving first aid to accident victims, investigating suspicious circumstances and hazards to public safety as well as enforcing traffic laws. Aside from these general duties, some police officers specialize in a particular field such as chemical and microscopic analysis, training and firearm instruction, fingerprinting identification, or work in special units like canine corps, special weapons and tactics, etc. Some specialize in work in prisons and penitentiaries – see correction officers for more details (link to criminal justice careers page). When you choose to become a police officer, bare in mind that you are choosing a dangerous and stressful career. Daily confrontations with criminals and exposure to death and suffering can be very tasking and hard to take. Expect to work 40 hours per week, with paid overtime available. Because protection has to be provided around the clock, expect to work some weekends, holidays and nights. According to the US Department of Labor, job opportunities in most local police departments will be excellent. Employment is expected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations until 2016. The need to replace workers who are retiring is growing, enhancing available job openings. In 2006, the median yearly earning for police officers was $47,460 while police supervisors earned $69,310 annually. Salary greatly depends on the level of education, experience, employer and degree of overtime. For more information on police officers, detectives and special agents visit the US Department of Labor.
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