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>Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
Overview
Salary
Demand
Core Tasks
Technology Skills
Tools Used
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Top 10 Skills
Top 10 Abilities
Top 10 Work Activities
Detailed Work Activities
Majors
Interests
Top 10 Work Styles
Work Values
Related Careers
Overview
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Experience
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Education
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Examples
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.
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.
Salary Salary
Salary at 10th Percentile: $38K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $48K
Median Salary: $65K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $86K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $109K
Demand
Core Tasks
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.
Render aid to accident victims and other persons requiring first aid for physical injuries.
Investigate illegal or suspicious activities.
Review facts of incidents to determine if criminal act or statute violations were involved.
Monitor, note, report, and investigate suspicious persons and situations, safety hazards, and unusual or illegal activity in patrol area.
Process prisoners, and prepare and maintain records of prisoner bookings and prisoner status during booking and pre-trial process.
Testify in court to present evidence or act as witness in traffic and criminal cases.
Drive vehicles or patrol specific areas to detect law violators, issue citations, and make arrests.
Monitor traffic to ensure motorists observe traffic regulations and exhibit safe driving procedures.
Relay complaint and emergency-request information to appropriate agency dispatchers.
Verify that the proper legal charges have been made against law offenders.
Evaluate complaint and emergency-request information to determine response requirements.
Execute arrest warrants, locating and taking persons into custody.
Photograph or draw diagrams of crime or accident scenes and interview principals and eyewitnesses.
Investigate traffic accidents and other accidents to determine causes and to determine if a crime has been committed.
Patrol specific area on foot, horseback, or motorized conveyance, responding promptly to calls for assistance.
Direct traffic flow and reroute traffic in case of emergencies.
Supervise law enforcement staff, such as jail staff, officers, and deputy sheriffs.
Notify patrol units to take violators into custody or to provide needed assistance or medical aid.
Serve statements of claims, subpoenas, summonses, jury summonses, orders to pay alimony, and other court orders.
Place people in protective custody.
Question individuals entering secured areas to determine their business, directing and rerouting individuals as necessary.
Patrol and guard courthouses, grand jury rooms, or assigned areas to provide security, enforce laws, maintain order, and arrest violators.
Transport or escort prisoners and defendants en route to courtrooms, prisons or jails, attorneys' offices, or medical facilities.
Inform citizens of community services and recommend options to facilitate longer-term problem resolution.
Locate and confiscate real or personal property, as directed by court order.
Provide road information to assist motorists.
Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Law and Government
95%
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Public Safety and Security
95%
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
English Language
83%
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Psychology
80%
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Customer and Personal Service
76%
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Education and Training
75%
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Administration and Management
68%
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Telecommunications
67%
Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Clerical
66%
Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Computers and Electronics
63%
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Top 10 Skills
Active Listening
80%
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking
80%
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Speaking
80%
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness
78%
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Negotiation
73%
Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Judgment and Decision Making
72%
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Monitoring
72%
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Persuasion
72%
Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Reading Comprehension
72%
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Service Orientation
70%
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Top 10 Abilities
Problem Sensitivity
87%
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Oral Expression
82%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Inductive Reasoning
80%
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Oral Comprehension
80%
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Deductive Reasoning
79%
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Near Vision
77%
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Speech Clarity
75%
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition
75%
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Written Comprehension
73%
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Selective Attention
70%
The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Top 10 Work Activities
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
94%
Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
Getting Information
93%
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
92%
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
92%
Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
91%
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
88%
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Documenting/Recording Information
86%
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization
85%
Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
85%
Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
Processing Information
84%
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Detailed Work Activities
Apprehend criminal suspects.
Maintain public order or security.
Respond to emergencies to provide assistance.
Prepare investigation or incident reports.
Administer first aid.
Investigate illegal or suspicious activities.
Investigate accidents to determine causes.
Maintain surveillance of individuals or establishments.
Communicate situation details to appropriate personnel.
Testify at legal or legislative proceedings.
Patrol properties to maintain safety.
Monitor access or flow of people to prevent problems.
Relay information about incidents or emergencies to personnel using phones or two-way radios.
Investigate legal issues.
Interview people to gather information about criminal activities.
Record crime or accident scene evidence with video or still cameras.
Determine operational procedures.
Direct vehicle traffic.
Serve court ordered documents.
Interview people to obtain information about actions or status of individuals.
Guard facilities.
Escort prisoners to courtrooms, prisons, or other facilities.
Inform the public about policies, services or procedures.
Recommend improvements to increase safety or reduce risks.
Locate suspicious objects or vehicles.
Confiscate prohibited or dangerous items.
Assist motorists or pedestrians.
Record information about suspects or criminals.
Maintain operational records.
Direct law enforcement activities.
Detain suspects or witnesses.
Communicate health and wellness information to the public.
Present social services program information to the public.
Majors
Major
Interests
Enterprising
86%
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Realistic
84%
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Social
67%
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Conventional
53%
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Investigative
29%
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Artistic
17%
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Top 10 Work Styles
Integrity
98%
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Self Control
96%
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Attention to Detail
94%
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Dependability
94%
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Stress Tolerance
94%
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Leadership
89%
Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Concern for Others
87%
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Cooperation
86%
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Initiative
85%
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Persistence
85%
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Work Values
Achievement
81%
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Independence
81%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Relationships
81%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
81%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Recognition
74%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
Working Conditions
68%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
