Police and detectives play an important role in the society. The work of police and detectives is to protect lives and property of people. Federal special agents, law enforcement officers, and inspectors perform various duties in different ways depending upon the type and size of their organization. In many jurisdictions, they need to exercise authority when required.
Job Prospect
The work of police and detective is to pursue and arrest individuals who violate the law and then issue credentials and give warnings. These officers' time is spent in preparing reports and maintaining records of incidents they encounter. May police and detectives patrol their jurisdictions and inspect suspicious activities they come across. Detectives are also known as agents or special agents. Their work is to perform investigative duties such as gathering evidence and collecting facts.
The responsibilities of police and detectives may vary depending upon their professional specialty such as game warden, police officer, and detective. Their duties are also differ depending upon whether they are working for a state, local, or federal agency. Duties may also vary significantly among various federal agencies that impose various aspects of law. In spite of job location or duties, detectives and police officers at all level should write reports. They also need to maintain detailed records that will be required in case they are testify in the court.
Uniformed police officers carry out general law enforcement duties comprising of maintaining daily patrols and answering to calls for service. They spent extensive amount of time in performing paperwork and responding to calls. Their work may involve directing traffic at the place of an accident, inspect a burglary, and provide first aid to the accident victim. In many large police departments, some officers are given specific type of duty. Some of the police agencies carry out community policing, which is a practice of building relationship with the citizens.
Generally, police agencies are organized into geographic districts. The uniformed officers are given tasks to patrol in areas including business district and residential neighborhoods. Police officers may need to work alone, however, they work together while patrolling. Officers who are on patrol should be accustomed to the area and stay alert for anything strange.
Hazards to public safety and suspicious circumstances are noted or investigated by police officers. While performing their job, police officers may pursue, identify, and take into custody suspected criminals, enforce traffic laws, and resolve various problems within the community. Many agencies have specific enforcement responsibilities and geographic jurisdictions. Many police officers specialize in different field such as microscopic analysis, chemical, firearms instruction and training, fingerprint identification, and handwriting.
Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs implement the law on the country level. Generally, sheriffs are elected to their position and carry out duties similar to those of county police chief. The sheriff's office includes fifty sworn officers. The job of sheriffs is to work together with police and provide security in country and city courts.
State Police Officers are called highway patrol officers or state troopers. Their work is to arrest criminals and patrol highways to implement motor vehicle laws, rules, and regulations. The job of state police officers is to issue traffic citations to motorists. At the place of accidents, the work of state police officers is to direct traffic, call for emergency equipment, and give first aid. They also need to write reports used to decide the cause of an accident. Sometimes, state police officers are called to provide assistance to law enforcement agencies, especially, in small towns and rural areas.
State law enforcement agencies function in all states excluding Hawaii. Many sworn personnel, who work full-time, are uniformed officers who patrol everyday and answer to calls for service. They also deal with other works such as administration, court related duties, investigation, and other assignments. Detectives serve as plainclothes investigators who collect facts and gather evidence to precede criminal cases. The work of detectives is to conduct interviews, assess records, participate in arrests or raid, and observe activities of suspects.
Work Environment
The work of police and detective can be stressful and dangerous. Therefore, detectives and police officers need to be alert as any emergency or danger may take place at any time. They have to cope with a number of threatening situations appropriately. Several law enforcement officers witness death and suffering from criminal behavior and accidents. The work of several federal agents such as DEA special agents and US Secret Service require extensive travel. Some of the special agents in agencies like US Border Patrol work outdoors in rocky land for long duration and in all types of weather.
Training and Educational Qualification
Many detectives and police officers are given on-the-job training in their agency's police academy. In many states, the appointment of detectives and police are governed by the Civil Service Regulations. It also governs large municipalities, special police agencies, and smaller jurisdictions. Candidates should be US citizens, generally, twenty years of age. Candidates should meet personal and physical qualifications.