Police officers

Duties and responsibilities:

Police officers are given more privileges than the average citizen and are charged with added responsibilities. They are expected to remain impartial, treat every citizen with respect and offer the rights guaranteed by the U.S. constitution. Police officers should be prepared to work on a flexible schedule because policemen are needed around the clock. They generally work 40-hour work weeks, but shifts can vary and paid overtime is not uncommon. Junior officers typically work more holidays and weekends than senior policemen. Police officers are also expected to be constantly alert and exercise sound judgment in threatening situations. Police work brings with it inherent danger and stress, so mental fortitude and resilience is important.

Salary: Academy pay is $31.15 an hour, until sworn in as a police officer. Police officer, starting step 1 salary $75,483. Police officer, top step salary $101,088 (one step increase annually for seven years) Lateral police officer salary determined by experience, training and education

Education: Police officer education requirements range from a high school diploma to a college degree. The minimum requirement is usually a high school diploma, although an increasing number of police departments require applicants to complete at least one or two years of college coursework or have an associate’s degree. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for federal police jobs. In urban police departments and federal agencies, knowing how to speak a foreign language is considered a plus.