Whether on foot, wheels, or horseback, detectives and police officers are alert for any threat to public safety, ready to respond at a moment’s notice when a need occurs. Police and sheriff’s officers protect lives and property. They respond to emergency and patrol their assigned area for signs of criminal activity. They wear recognizable uniforms, and may conduct searches and arrest suspected criminals. Some officers specialize in one type of crime, such as narcotics. Detectives and criminal investigators, or agents, gather facts and evidence of possible crimes. They conduct interviews, observe the activities of suspects, and participate in raids and arrests. Detectives often wear plain clothes, and usually specialize in investigating one type of crime, such as homicide or fraud. Transit and railroad police patrol railroad yards and transit stations to prevent thefts and protect property. Police and detective work requires patience, and paperwork; officers document every incident in detail, and must be ready to testify in court. Most officers carry law enforcement tools, such as radios, handcuffs, and firearms. Police and detective work can be physically demanding, stressful, and dangerous; injuries are common. Despite working shifts around the clock and dealing with life-threatening situations, officers must stay calm, think clearly, and use good judgment at all times. Most positions require graduation from a law enforcement agency’s training academy and extensive on-the-job training. Police officers and detectives need a license to carry firearms and enforce the law. Typically, candidates must be U.S. citizens, at least 21 years old, and in excellent physical and mental health, with no felony convictions.
What they do:
Gather, analyze, or evaluate information from a variety of sources, such as law enforcement databases, surveillance, intelligence networks or geographic information systems. Use intelligence data to anticipate and prevent organized crime activities, such as terrorism.
On the job, you would:
Prepare comprehensive written reports, presentations, maps, or charts, based on research, collection, and analysis of intelligence data.
Gather, analyze, correlate, or evaluate information from a variety of resources, such as law enforcement databases.
Validate known intelligence with data from other sources.
Arts and Humanities
English language
Safety and Government
law and government
public safety and security
Engineering and Technology
computers and electronics
Business
customer service
Basic Skills
listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
reading work related information
Problem Solving
noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Social
bringing people together to solve differences
changing what is done based on other people's actions
Verbal
read and understand what is written
communicate by writing
Ideas and Logic
make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
notice when problems happen
Visual Understanding
see hidden patterns
People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
Analytical Thinking
Attention to Detail
Integrity
Initiative
Dependability
Adaptability/Flexibility
You might use software like this on the job:
Data base user interface and query software
Amazon Web Services AWS software
Microsoft SQL Server
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Data base management system software
Apache Hadoop
Apache Hive
bachelor's degree or master's degree usually needed
Get started on your career:
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.