Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers

criminal enterprising patrol area law public safety investigate emergency custody record facts

Deputy, Deputy Sheriff, Patrol Officer, Police Officer

What they do:
Maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances. Perform a combination of the following duties: patrol a specific area; direct traffic; issue traffic summonses; investigate accidents; apprehend and arrest suspects, or serve legal processes of courts. Includes police officers working at educational institutions.
On the job, you would:
  • Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.
  • Provide for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations.
  • Record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.

Knowledge

Safety and Government

  • law and government
  • public safety and security

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Math and Science

  • psychology
  • geography

Business

  • customer service

Skills

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • talking to others

Social

  • understanding people's reactions
  • changing what is done based on other people's actions

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Verbal

  • listen and understand what people say
  • communicate by speaking

Ideas and Logic

  • notice when problems happen
  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information

Visual Understanding

  • see hidden patterns
  • quickly know what you are looking at

Physical Strength

  • use your lower back and stomach

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Integrity
  • Dependability
  • Self Control
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Attention to Detail
  • Leadership

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Data base user interface and query software

  • Database software
  • Microsoft Access Hot Technology

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology

Graphics or photo imaging software

  • Computer aided composite drawing software
  • SmugMug Flickr

Education

Education: (rated 3 of 5)
high school diploma/GED or
certificate after high school
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Average
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
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