Policework is rewarding and plentiful.
Law enforcement offers an unusual mix of job opportunities and content that few other occupations provide. Not many jobs can give someone the chance to face danger, serve the public and carry a weapon as well as work in a laboratory or computer network. Someone considering law enforcement as a career will find a wealth of alternatives.
Safety
Cops carry guns and may encounter violent people. Everyone wants to come home safely at the end of their shift. According to a study done in 2009, the latest year for which statistics are available by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and quoted in Forbes, police work doesn't rank in the top 10 most dangerous jobs. Trucker, roofers, farmers, loggers and fishermen all have higher fatality rates than policemen. Cops keep their fatality rate low by training for violent situations and carrying tools such as protective vests and personal weapons.
Variety
Law enforcement offers a wide variety of occupations as well as settings. For applicants who want police work which is mostly community oriented, there are departments in small towns with low crime rates. Applicants who want excitement can work in high crime areas such as St. Louis which is the most dangerous city in the United States according to the FBI. People with academic abilities can get degrees with a major in chemistry, computers or sociology and a minor in criminal justice and find rewarding work doing research or evidence processing.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation
The successful applicant to the FBI has a college degree and some law enforcement experience. The FBI handles national security issues, organized crime, computer crimes which cross state lines and financial crimes. The FBI has constant openings for applicants with foreign language skills and law or accounting degrees. The FBI has stringent physical requirements.
Local Agencies
In 2008, the United States had 661,500 policemen, sheriffs and detectives with almost nine out of 10 working for local government entities. According to the BLS, the employment picture is excellent for local police departments through 2018. Growth in hiring across the United States in police work stays steadily at, or above, the national average. Advancement into detective or investigative work will grow at twice the national average during that time. In 2008, BLS statistics show the average yearly wage of a cop to be $52,810 and she can retire, usually at half pay, after 25 or 30 years. Policemen get paid vacations, sick leave and health and life insurance.
Competitive Advantages
A college degree in criminal justice is an advantage as well as computer or accounting skills. Some states allow individuals to attend the state police academy as private citizens and pay for the tuition themselves. This helps the applicant's job search because the department doesn't have to pay the applicant's salary while they get the required training.
Tags: police work, United States, college degree, criminal justice, enforcement offers