Private Investigation Resources for Private Investigators, Detectives, Law Enforcement, and Legal Professionals
The
Challenges of a Police Career
Author:
Josh Stone
A
police career is a challenging and sometimes dangerous choice.
It is not just writing out tickets or making traffic stops.
Police departments are part of the city and state governments.
The main responsibility for police is to keep order.
Depending on the country, the names for police are
different. When attending school for a police career,
there are many courses that must be taken. Proper
training is essential in order to survive. A police
officer must maintain the law and order by enforcing the
laws of society. Federal, State, and local official
create and pass the laws that all must live by.
A police career also involves training sessions on the weapons
range. A police trainee must pass the test on the shooting
range, and a yearly test after being sworn in as an officer.
A police career may involve the officer walking the streets of
his or her district, keeping the peace and arresting
lawbreakers. A police officer responds to calls for help and
aids those in need of medical attention.
They investigate crime, interrogate potential criminals, and are
required to keep detailed notes that will assist in the
prosecution of criminals that have been arrested. Keeping
detailed reports are very time consuming and some feel is the
worst part of their duties.
Choosing a police career involves hours of classroom time,
role-playing different scenarios. A police officer must be able
to respond to any type of crisis call whether on duty of off. A
required course in a police career is psychology.
A police career will also train personnel in disaster
situations. They will be taught what to do in case of natural
disasters or terrorist attacks. They are taught protocol for
every situation.
Police academies throughout the country have federal guidelines
in which they have to teach students who choose a police career.
This is done not only to have a uniform police force, but also
when emergencies arise in different states, police be
transported from other states to assist with local enforcement
agencies.
The more mundane duties of a police career involve issuing
traffic tickets and citations, or transporting an intoxicated
person to the police station.
Not everyone will be accepted to a police career. There are a
number of factors that are used to determine if the person is
both mentally and physically capable of becoming a police
officer. There are extensive psychological tests that are given,
as well a physically endurance tests. Officials feel that if
their officers are carrying weapons, they have to be completely
in control.
It is also preferred that the candidate that chooses a police
career have some kind of higher education. The course that is
preferred is criminal justice.
Often, retired military will seek a police career. They have the
discipline and training that is necessary for law enforcement.
They are able to pass the rigorous physical fitness courses that
police academies require. As police agencies are operated by a
chain of command that is similar to the military, there is very
little adjustment time. For those who have the proper
qualifications, promotions come more quickly. Along with the
increase in pay for these promotions, comes a lot of paperwork.
Retired military are always accepted, with the exception of
having been discharged for psychological reasons. A police
career is one of the few career choices that can carry weapons
legally. Although the standard issue is a nine-millimeter
handgun, officers may carry shotguns in the trunks of their
cruisers for situations that require more than a handgun.
All of those who choose a police career start out in a very low
position. They usually are assigned to a specific community and
get to know the citizens and businesses. Only after a specific
period of time will they be considered for promotion.
When choosing a police career, it must be taken into
consideration that there can be dangerous situations. A police
officer is often faced with situations that are unpredictable. A
simple traffic stop can have a disastrous outcome. They never
know just what will happen at any given time.
In past decades, the police have had to deal with unpredictable
situations. If they were at the scene of an accident, they would
assist and comfort the injured. Today, they are hesitant to even
hold the hand of a victim for fear of contracting diseases.
When apprehending a criminal, they need to exercise extreme
caution, not only so they do not violate the rights of the
criminal, but also because of the dangers of communicable
diseases.
The dangers that are associated with a police career can cause
stress on the job. In the United States alone, over eighteen
thousand officers have died in the line of duty. Some
departments require that the street officers wear protective
vests to protect them from being injured.
Some protocol of police departments requires that the officer
seek help from the department psychologist. This can be helpful
in determining if there is a problem with officer.
In today's police career, an officer is allowed to search, seize
and arrest a criminal. They are not allowed to search or seize
without probable cause. If this occurs, the defense will argue
that their rights have been violated. If this can be proven,
then the criminal is set free. Special care is taken not to
violate the rights of the accused.
With a police career, a police officer is allowed to interrogate
a criminal, but cannot abuse or use excessive force in any way.
Reading the arrest person their Miranda rights is also a part of
the police career. Specific laws that even the police have to
follow.
There are some officers that have gone their entire careers
without having to draw their guns. Others draw them on a daily
basis. It depends on the region. In small rural communities
other then an occasional drunk and disorderly charge, there is
very little crime. In large cities, it is rampant. More police
officers are needed in a big large cities and towns.
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