Law Enforcement Careers Information
Law enforcement officers protect the people by maintaining the peace, enforcing the law, and investigating crimes. Police officers, patrol officers, and sheriff’s deputies serve on the front-line, and make up the majority of law enforcement officers. Other officers work as detectives, private investigators, or support staff, or in various positions with the state and federal government. The latter might include agencies as different as the ATF, the U.S. Marshals, or the FBI.
Law Enforcement Careers & Degrees
- Colorado Technical University - Undergraduate: Undergraduate - Online
Work in law enforcement can be high-stress and high-danger, but many agents and officers will tell you it is also deeply rewarding for the right kind of person. Because law enforcement serves a basic societal need, careers in this field are afforded significant status and importance, and are among the safest positions during economic downturns. However, the significant amount of risk involved in a law enforcement career is a consideration any prospective officer should consider seriously.
Law Enforcement Careers Path
For police officer positions, education requirements vary. All police officers need at least a high school degree, and some departments will require college coursework or even an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree.
Useful courses or degrees include those in criminal justice, police science, or specifically in law enforcement itself. Accepted applicants will need to complete in-house training with their department, which usually consists of citywide or countywide academies, followed by on-the-job training with more experienced officers.
Law enforcement positions at state and federal agencies are likely to require at least a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as criminal justice, criminal psychology, or law. In most law enforcement positions, extensive training is required prior to active duty and then supplemented by on-the-job education during the early years of a career.
In some cases, such as with the FBI, this training period will involve a rigorous academy course in which candidates are trained both physically and mentally for the job. Also worth noting if you are considering a career in this field, especially with a federal agency, is that a thorough background check is standard.
Law Enforcement Careers: Compatible Personality Traits
Confident, outgoing, assertive, patient, courteous, dedicated, diligent, alert, conscientious, active, capable, strong-willed, practical, charismatic, courageous, persuasive.
Interview with a Police Officer
Read More from A Law Enforcement Officer…Salary Expectations for Law Enforcement
Salaries vary by specialization within law enforcement. For example, the median annual salary for detectives and investigators is $60,910, whereas first-line supervisors and managers of police and detectives have a median annual salary of $75,490.Special overtime rules apply to many federal law enforcement positions, on account of the extremely long hours involved. Beginning FBI agents, for example, make an average of $60,199 a year with overtime pay.
As government employees in a fully-unionized position, police officers receive above average compensation. The median yearly income for police and sheriff’s officers is $51,410, and possibilities for advancement based on both seniority and performance are usually quite strong.
Law Enforcement Careers: Job Outlook
Employment in law enforcement is expected to grow by healthy 11% by 2016. Job security and benefits are especially strong in government positions, and law enforcement employees usually enjoy excellent benefits and strong union protection.
Slightly Off the Footpath
Sources : bls.gov/oco/ocos160.htm
