What does a Police Officer do?

Bad credit will not completely disqualify you from becoming a police officer, but it could make it difficult to pass a screening. Many police departments use a credit check to screen candidates, so taking action to fix your credit score is a good idea.

Some police academies are very competitive, making it hard to get accepted and graduate. If you are keen to pursue a career as a police officer, you can increase your chances of getting accepted by getting a degree in criminal justice prior to applying, joining after spending some time in the military or gaining experience in a security position.

An entry-level police officer is a police officer that is new to the police force, typically coming straight from the police force or having less than two years of experience.

A career as a police officer might be right for you if you are responsible, hardworking, stay out of legal trouble and have a desire to help others and keep your community safe.

Each police department will have different rules, but generally, prior drug use or a low-level arrest will not disqualify you from becoming a police officer. Be prepared to be honest and upfront about this within your interview.

The primary responsibilities of a police officer include enforcing laws, preventing crimes, responding to emergencies and providing support services.

A detective is in charge of investigative work in a specific case and police officers are more focused on patrolling areas and stopping crime.

Some skills that a police officer should have are: attention to detail, critical thinking, calm under pressure, responsible, assertive, excellent communication skills and decision-making skills.

Police officers have many duties and responsibilities. They are primarily concerned with protecting people and keeping communities safe. Common duties include traffic patrol, responding to emergency calls, writing citations and making arrests of those violating the law.

A felony, domestic violence conviction, lack of driver’s license, bad work history, undesirable academic performance, severe medical condition, poor physical fitness or substance abuse issues will all most likely disqualify you from being a police officer.

There are several different kind of jobs within the police including:

• Detective.
• State Police.
• Crime Scene Investigator.
• Highway Patrol.
• Sheriff.
• Air Marshall.
• Victim Advocate.
• School Resource Officer.
• Fish and Game Warden.