Do You Have the Courage and Drive to Train as a Police Officer?
Every young child goes through a phase of wanting to become a police officer, but it takes a strong, dedicated and brave individual to actually go through with it. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that there will be a 10% increase in jobs until 2018 with average entry level salaries compared to other careers in criminal justice at about $45,000 with higher earning potentials linked to advanced educational degrees and higher positions, like sergeants and lieutenants.
This means that there continues to be many opportunities for someone who is mentally and physically strong, well-trained with the appropriate education and preferably speaks multiple languages. There are also many opportunities that span not only local, but state and federal jobs as well, and there are also many divisions and roles you can play on the force. With crime continuing to go up, strong, trained police officers are more essential than ever, so if you choose this as a career, you need to be committed to your work in order to be effective.
Police Training
In many cases, simply possessing a high school diploma or GED, on top of being over 20 and a US citizen are all that's needed to become a police officer, but if you want to apply for a state or federal position, you may need an associate's degree or even a bachelor's degree such as a criminal justice degree or law enforcement degree.
Also, if you want better chances of moving up in the force, having an advanced degree is essential, so look into earning it online at Walden University Online or Virginia College. You will also need to be in top physical shape as you will undergo a physical exam, and you will need to endure a background check and additional psychological and medical exams. If accepted, you will then spend the next 12 weeks at a police academy for job training. Job Responsibilities
There are so many things that a police officer could face during his shift, but for many entry level uniformed officers in a city, the role can be quite basic. Patrolling designated city areas, directing traffic or helping in the event of a car accident are some of the simpler jobs, but they could also be faced with investigating crimes or responding to emergencies when needed.
At a state or federal level, investigating crimes, collecting evidence and apprehending criminals is the norm of the job and so is generally much more dangerous and stressful. Wherever a police officer works though, the risks are always there, so a trained professional that can remain calm while upholding the law is a necessary requirement.
