Collect and secure evidence from crime scenes.

Arrest people suspected of committing crimes.

Obtain and serve warrants for arrests, searches, and other purposes.

Search restricted-access databases for vehicle or other records and warrants.

Conduct traffic stops and issue citations.

Patrol assigned areas, observing people and activities.

Respond to emergency and nonemergency calls.

Police officers, detectives, and criminal investigators typically do the following: Detectives and criminal investigators, who are sometimes called agents or special agents, gather facts and collect evidence of crimes. Police officers protect lives and property.

Police officers use computers to check license information. Learn more about police and detectives by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations. More Information, Including Links to O*NET Similar OccupationsĬompare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of police and detectives with similar occupations. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.Įxplore resources for employment and wages by state and area for police and detectives. Overall employment of police and detectives is projected to grow 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.Ībout 64,500 openings for police and detectives are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

The median annual wage for police and detectives was $69,160 in May 2022. Other requirements vary, but candidates usually must be at least 21 years old and able to meet rigorous physical and personal qualifications. Most police and detectives must graduate from their agency’s training academy before completing on-the-job training. The education typically required to enter the occupation ranges from a high school diploma to a college degree. How to Become a Police Officer or Detective Working around the clock in shifts is common. Police and sheriff's patrol officers and transit and railroad police have some of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. Police and detective work can be physically demanding, stressful, and dangerous. Detectives and criminal investigators gather facts and collect evidence of possible crimes. Please enable javascript to play this video.

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