Law Enforcement Career

Police officers can be involved in dangerous situations.

Working as a police officer is one of the most rewarding – albeit one of the most dangerous – careers out there.

Police officers put their lives on the line every day to protect our lives, our property, and our freedom.

While not all police officers are involved in dangerous duties on a daily basis, they are expected to step in and protect anyone at any time – on or off duty.

Working as a Police Officer

Police officers who work in local law enforcement settings will find themselves most often handing out citations and giving warnings. They spend a lot of time out patrolling their areas, investigating suspicious activities and individuals. However, most police officers also spend a lot of time writing reports, doing paperwork, and working on computers. Of course, working in today's police force involves a lot more computer work than it ever did before.

While writing and maintaining records is something nearly every police officer does, the actual day-to-day activities of an officer can vary depending on what they do and whether they work for the local police force, the state, or a federal agency. Below are just a few types of police officers and what they may do:

Uniformed officers – these police officers perform general law enforcement, including patrolling neighborhoods, responding to calls, handling vehicle accidents, writing tickets, and taking reports following a crime. Officers often work with a partner while going about their duties. Some officers may be assigned to special areas, such as schools, airports, and other areas, while others specialize in certain fields like motorcycle officers, instructors, analysts, or emergency response teams.

State troopers – these officers have more jurisdiction than local police officers. They can arrest criminals anywhere in the state and enforce traffic laws on highways. Often, state troopers are called in to help local officers when more manpower is needed.

Sheriffs – sheriffs function on the county level, and they're generally elected instead of hired. Sheriffs usually run small departments and have duties similar to uniformed officers. Some sheriffs and deputy sheriffs also work in courts as bailiffs.

Detectives – these plainclothes officers generally conduct interviews and gather evidence for criminal cases. They examine records, follow suspects, and may even make arrests or help raid suspicious buildings. Most work on specific cases until the cases are either dropped or closed.

FBI agents – working for the federal government, FBI agents are among the most highly trained officers. They often investigate crime, go undercover, handle kidnappings, and deal with drug trafficking.

Working as a police officer often means working in dangerous, high pressure situations. In fact, officers may see their fellow police officers wounded or even killed in the line of duty. This can take a high toll on anyone, and it can be especially devastating to some. On the federal level, FBI and other federal agents are often requires to go undercover for weeks at a time or travel on short notice. Working as a police officer isn't for everyone, but for those who are dedicated to protecting and serving, it can be a very rewarding career.

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