What do Police do?
Police Officers work on law enforcement teams to enforce local, state and federal laws. They’re typically assigned specific areas to patrol to ensure all citizens follow the law. They’ll administer warnings, citations or arrests to people who break these laws and regulations. Police Officers must also quickly respond to emergency calls and drive to the scene to assist other team members in resolving different emergency situations.
When a crime occurs, the Police are responsible for providing written recordings of various incidents and must interview eyewitnesses, suspects and victims to provide their Supervisors with full details of the cases. Police Officers may be expected to appear and testify in court cases for the arrests or citations they’ve administered.
Police skills and qualifications
The skills and qualifications for becoming a Police Officer include the ability to pass certain physical and mental evaluations. These are used to ensure that candidates are qualified to provide a high degree of public service. Some of the common skills sought in Police candidates include:
- Good judgment
- Calm under pressure
- Strong verbal communication skills
- No felonies or unpaid traffic violations
- Not currently under a court injunction or supervision
Police salary expectations
The average salary for a Police Officer is $53,557 per year. Salary can vary depending on geographical location and years of experience. Some common benefits for Police positions include tuition reimbursement, life insurance, disability insurance and a retirement plan.
Police salary expectations
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Common salary:
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Typical salaries range from
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Police education and training requirements
Police education and training requirements will depend on the exact job role and the level of training required in your organization. The following examples assume that the Police positions to be hired are entry-level and the organization provides access to additional training if necessary. Some of the common requirements seen in such roles are an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or similar field. A bachelor’s degree may be preferred. Basic Law Enforcement Certification course completion and a valid state-issued driver’s license are additional potential requirements.
Police experience requirements
Experience requirements differ for each Police agency, but for entry-level positions, common requirements could include prior military experience or security experience. Some positions may require no experience and would note that the organization will train candidates.
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