Careers > Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

$65.79K Median Salary 57.6K Job Openings (Annual Projection) 7.2% Job Growth

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About This Career

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.

Reported Job Titles

Deputy, Deputy Sheriff, Law Enforcement Officer, Patrol Deputy, Patrol Officer, Peace Officer, Police Officer, Police Patrol Officer, Public Safety Officer, State Trooper

Career data shown for:

Skills You'll Need

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Abilities

Oral Comprehension

Problem Sensitivity

Deductive Reasoning

Inductive Reasoning

Oral Expression

Speech Clarity

Written Comprehension

Information Ordering

Near Vision

Far Vision

Speech Recognition

Flexibility of Closure

Written Expression

Category Flexibility

Trunk Strength

Explosive Strength

Multilimb Coordination

Selective Attention

Speed of Closure

Static Strength

Dynamic Strength

Perceptual Speed

Reaction Time

Response Orientation

Arm-Hand Steadiness

Fluency of Ideas

Memorization

Originality

Time Sharing

Knowledge

Law and Government

Public Safety and Security

English Language

Psychology

Customer and Personal Service

Education and Training

Administration and Management

Telecommunications

Administrative

Computers and Electronics

Communications and Media

Transportation

Geography

Sociology and Anthropology

Skills

Active Listening

Social Perceptiveness

Speaking

Active Learning

Critical Thinking

Coordination

Judgment and Decision Making

Persuasion

Reading Comprehension

Monitoring

Service Orientation

Negotiation

Complex Problem Solving

Time Management

Writing

Instructing

Technology Skills

Data base user interface and query software

Presentation software

Graphics or photo imaging software

Spreadsheet software

Electronic mail software

Office suite software

Internet browser software

Geographic information system

Helpdesk or call center software

Operating system software

Word processing software

Map creation software

Process mapping and design software

Tools

Police vehicles

Handguns

Two way radios

Handcuffs

Surveillance video or audio recorders

Notebook computers

Biological evidence collection kits

Mobile medical services first aid kits

Masks or accessories

Teletype input devices

Mobile medical services automated external defibrillators AED or hard paddles

Radarbased surveillance systems

Still cameras

Fire extinguishers

Tape measures

Footprint lifters

Police or security shotguns

Bullet proof vests

Night sticks

Flatbed trailers

Acoustic ear muffs or defenders

Mobile resuscitator or aspirator kits

Military rifles

Sound measuring apparatus or decibel meter

Rescue ships or boats

Snowmobiles or snow scooter

Hand sprayers

Diving instruments or accessories

Body armour

Traffic signals

Rulers

Flares

Alcohol analyzers

Goggles

Biometric identification equipment

Weapon or explosives detectors and supplies

All terrain vehicles tracked or wheeled

Fingerprint equipment

Riot batons

Narcotic test kits

Fingerprint latent print kits

Digital camcorders or video cameras

Ultraviolet UV lamps

Measuring wheels for distance

Lasers

Binoculars

X ray radiography examination equipment

Global positioning system GPS receiver

Speed stoppers

Hazardous material protective apparel

Riot helmets

Safety glasses

Riot shields

Metal detectors

Digital cameras

Protective gloves

Personal motorized watercraft

Desktop computers

Personal computers

Abilities

Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Speech Clarity: The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Information Ordering: The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Far Vision: The ability to see details at a distance.
Speech Recognition: The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Flexibility of Closure: The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Category Flexibility: The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Trunk Strength: The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
Explosive Strength: The ability to use short bursts of muscle force to propel oneself (as in jumping or sprinting), or to throw an object.
Multilimb Coordination: The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Speed of Closure: The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
Static Strength: The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
Dynamic Strength: The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue.
Perceptual Speed: The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Reaction Time: The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
Response Orientation: The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.
Arm-Hand Steadiness: The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Fluency of Ideas: The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Memorization: The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
Originality: The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
Time Sharing: The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).

Knowledge

Law and Government: Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Public Safety and Security: 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: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Psychology: 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: 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: 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: 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: Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Administrative: Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Communications and Media: Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Transportation: Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Geography: Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Sociology and Anthropology: Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.

Skills

Active Listening: 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.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Negotiation: Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.

Technology Skills

Data base user interface and query software: Blackboard software; Database software; Microsoft Access; Yardi software
Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint
Graphics or photo imaging software: SmugMug Flickr
Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel
Electronic mail software: IBM Notes; Microsoft Exchange; Microsoft Outlook
Office suite software: Microsoft Office software
Internet browser software: Web browser software
Geographic information system: ESRI ArcView; Geographic information system GIS systems
Helpdesk or call center software: Help desk software
Operating system software: Microsoft Windows
Word processing software: 3M Post-it App; Evernote; Google Docs; Microsoft Word
Map creation software: ESRI Site Scan for ArcGIS; OpenDroneMap
Process mapping and design software: Microsoft Visio

Tools

Police vehicles: Police bicycles; Police motorcycles; Police patrol cars
Handguns: Service revolvers
Two way radios:
Handcuffs: Metal handcuffs; Plastic handcuffs
Surveillance video or audio recorders: Audio recording equipment
Notebook computers: Laptop computers
Biological evidence collection kits:
Mobile medical services first aid kits: Emergency first aid kits
Masks or accessories: Dust masks
Teletype input devices: Teletype terminals
Mobile medical services automated external defibrillators AED or hard paddles: Automated external defibrillators AED
Radarbased surveillance systems: Radar navigation systems
Still cameras: 35 millimeter cameras
Fire extinguishers:
Tape measures: Diameter tape measures
Footprint lifters: Electrostatic dust lifters; Impression casting kits
Police or security shotguns: Police shotguns
Bullet proof vests: Bulletproof vests
Night sticks: Nightsticks
Flatbed trailers: Utility trailers
Acoustic ear muffs or defenders: Protective ear muffs
Mobile resuscitator or aspirator kits: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation CPR face shields
Military rifles: Police rifles
Sound measuring apparatus or decibel meter: Octave band analyzers; Sound level meters
Rescue ships or boats: Rescue boats
Snowmobiles or snow scooter: Snowmobiles
Hand sprayers: Spray guns
Diving instruments or accessories: Bailout bottles; Closed diving bells; Weight belts; Wet suit gloves
Body armour: Protective body armor
Traffic signals: Arrow boards
Rulers: Precision rulers; Steel rules
Flares: Pyrotechnic distress signals
Alcohol analyzers: Breathalyzers
Goggles: Safety goggles
Biometric identification equipment: Bio-sensors
Weapon or explosives detectors and supplies: Explosive detection systems; Explosive trace portals
All terrain vehicles tracked or wheeled: All terrain vehicles ATV
Fingerprint equipment: Suspect fingerprinting equipment
Riot batons: Side-handle batons
Narcotic test kits: Drug testing kits
Fingerprint latent print kits: Fingerprint evidence kits
Digital camcorders or video cameras: Digital video cameras
Ultraviolet UV lamps: Inspection lamps
Measuring wheels for distance: Distance measuring wheels
Lasers: Fiber optic visual fault locators
Binoculars:
X ray radiography examination equipment: Radiographic flaw detectors
Global positioning system GPS receiver: Global positioning system GPS receivers
Speed stoppers: Tire deflation devices
Hazardous material protective apparel: Personal protective suits
Riot helmets:
Safety glasses: Protective safety glasses
Riot shields:
Metal detectors: Rebar locators
Digital cameras:
Protective gloves: Safety gloves
Personal motorized watercraft: Jet skis
Desktop computers:
Personal computers:

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