Police Officer Jobs

If you think all police officer jobs are made equal, think again. The truth is that police officers can work in a variety of work places, even if they all share the same goal in the end. All cops strive to protect their communities, but they do so through different criminal justice careers. If you plan to become a police officer, you need to explore the different work opportunities available to you. Here are some common police officer jobs you can keep in mind after you complete your job training.

Traditional Police Officers

Most police officers work in their communities to respond to distress calls that come in. These officers are also responsible for watching the streets to keep traffic violations to a minimum. Some police officers drive around every day trying to improve law enforcement visibility on the streets, purely to keep crime rates down by being around. Others respond to domestic violence and abuse calls on a regular basis. Base level police officers take care of a range of tasks in the community, and they make up the face of the criminal justice system. You will likely work in this sector of the police force at some point in your career.

Highway Patrol Officers

Also known as state troopers, these officers conduct most of the same tasks as traditional police officers. The only difference is that they spend their time catching criminals on highways, outside of standard city limits. Highway patrol officers work in a much more dangerous environment than standard police officers because they have to chase drivers down at incredibly high speeds. They typically do not go to residences or city neighborhoods when they conduct their business. They are strictly responsible for providing safety on the highways.

Sheriffs

Sheriff departments cover rural cities that do not have a main stream police force. One county’s sheriff’s office may be responsible for protecting multiple towns in the area, so sheriff’s officers typically spend a lot of their days traveling. An actual sheriff is the chief of police for this field of work, and he is responsible for keeping other officers in line. Some counties only have one sheriff, and others have a team of them to protect the community. You will just have to see what job openings are available for you when you seek employment as a sheriff.

Police Detectives

Police detectives work with forensic scientists and criminal investigators to gather information for a criminal case. They assess crime scenes and scenarios to determine what a criminal most likely did to commit a crime. Police detectives make up a specialized sector of the criminal justice system, but the demand for these officers increases with every passing year. You may have to go through some investigative training in order to work in this field, but that will lead you to a rewarding career in the end.

Campus Police Officers

Campus police officers work directly on college campuses. Some of them only have jurisdiction on campus and others can still arrest criminals when they leave the college’s land line. Campus police usually monitor roads on a college campus to minimize traffic crime there. Any accidents that happen on campus are handled by them, not city police officials. If you only want to work in a small area in the future, a campus officer position may be fitting for you. With that, you can help the community and remain in one set area at the same time.

Security Guards

Security guards are responsible for protecting places of business. They watch the doors of a building and the activity within the building to ensure that everyone inside is safe. Security guards tend to be bigger and stronger than other officers because they are more likely to encounter confrontations in their work. Many of them still hold the same authority level as street cops, but they choose to use that authority to protect establishments, rather than patrolling the neighborhoods.

Federal Officers

Federal officers typically protect federal buildings to ensure that unauthorized trespassers are not allowed entry into the facilities. These officers do not have jurisdiction outside of federal property, so they must call on other law enforcement officials to take down criminals who escape their area. You may have seen these officers in your local IRS office if you have ever gone there to do your taxes. Of all the criminal justice careers mentioned here, this may be one of the more laid back ones you could look into.

Conclusion

There are many careers to choose from in criminal justice if you obtain your police officer certification. If you do not like one area of work, you should be able to find somethign else in no time at all. Explore the career opportunities available to you and you should find happiness in the end.