Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers

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.

On the job, you would:

• Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.
• Provide for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations.
• Record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.

Education

• high school diploma/GED
• certificate after high school

Safety and Government

• law and government
• public safety and security

Arts and Humanities

• English language

Math and Science

• psychology
• geography

Business

• customer service

Basic Skills

• listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
• talking to others

Social

• understanding people's reactions
• changing what is done based on other people's actions

Problem Solving

• noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Realistic

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

• Integrity
• Dependability
• Self Control
• Stress Tolerance
• Attention to Detail
• Leadership

Verbal

• listen and understand what people say
• communicate by speaking

Ideas and Logic

• notice when problems happen
• make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information

Visual Understanding

• see hidden patterns
• quickly know what you are looking at

Physical Strength

• use your lower back and stomach