How Badly You Want to Become a Police Officer?

The Criminal Justice career field is becoming one of the fastest and most demanding careers in the United States and worldwide. According to reports by the Department of Justice expenditures and employment statistics police departments and related agencies are in constant need of more police officers in all level departments. Teh US Department of Labor (Occupation Handbook) reports that the job opportunities in most local police departments will be excellent for qualified individuals. It's a good time to become a police officer.

Sounds good so far? Learn in just one click when, how and where to get your police training and law enforcement/criminal justice degree.

Explore top Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement training programs near you!

     
Why Criminal Justice?

The main purpose of the police is to patrol their jurisdictions and investigate any suspicious activity they notice. Often they issue citations or give warnings, but they also pursue and apprehend individuals who break the law. Each department has a different focus, but they all work together toward the vision of making their city, town, or county safe for the community.  A large proportion of their time is spent writing reports and maintaining records of incidents they encounter.

State and local agencies encourage applicants to take courses or training related to law enforcement subjects after high school. Many entry-level applicants for police jobs have completed some formal postsecondary education, and a significant number are college graduates. Many junior colleges, colleges, and universities offer programs in law enforcement or administration of justice. Many agencies pay all or part of the tuition for officers to work toward degrees in criminal justice, police science, administration of justice, or public administration and pay higher salaries to those who earn one of those degrees.

How Far Can I Go in Law Enforcement?

Employment change. Average employment growth is expected. Employment of police and detectives is expected to grow 11 percent over the 2006-16 decade, about as fast as the average for all occupations. A more security-conscious society and population growth will contribute to the increasing demand for police services. Learn how and where to land better police jobs.

Job prospects. Overall opportunities in local police departments will be excellent for individuals who meet the psychological, personal, and physical qualifications. In addition to openings from employment growth, many openings will be created by the need to replace workers who retire and those who leave local agencies for Federal jobs and private sector security jobs.

Job competition. There will be more competition for jobs in Federal and State law enforcement agencies than for jobs in local agencies. Less competition for jobs will occur in departments that offer relatively low salaries or those in urban communities where the crime rate is relatively high.

Military experience. Applicants with military or college training in police sciences will have the best opportunities in local and State departments.

Local, state, or federal opportunities. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree and several years of law enforcement or military experience, especially investigative experience, will have the best opportunities in Federal agencies.