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People depend on police officers to protect their lives and property. Law enforcement officers, some of whom are State or Federal special agents or inspectors, perform these duties in a variety of ways depending on the size and type of their organization.
Police pursue and apprehend individuals who break the law and then issue citations or give warnings. A large proportion of their time is spent writing reports and maintaining records of incidents they encounter. Most police officers patrol their jurisdictions and investigate any suspicious activity they notice.
Some police officers specialize in a particular field:
- chemical and microscopic analysis
- training and firearms instruction
- handwriting and fingerprint identification
Some work with special units:
- horseback
- bicycle
- motorcycle
- harbor patrol
- canine corps
- special weapons and tactics (SWAT)
Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs enforce the law on the county level. Sheriffs are usually elected to their posts and perform duties similar to those of a local or county police chief. Sheriffs’ departments tend to be relatively small, most having fewer than 50 sworn officers. Deputy sheriffs have law enforcement duties similar to those of officers in urban police departments.
How long will it take?
Most police and detectives learn much of what they need to know on the job, often in their agency’s police academy. Applicants usually must have at least a high school education and many departments require 1 or 2 years of college coursework or a college degree. At Amarillo College, you can earn a degree or certificate in less than two years.
How much can you earn?
Police and sheriff’s officers had median annual earnings of $47,460 in 2006.
Where can you work?
79% of police officers are employed by local governments, state police agencies employ about 11% and various Federal agencies employed about 7%.
AC can help you get there!
