High crime rates have brought a stronger focus on matters relating to public safety in the United States, and there is a growing requirement for professionals with a sound knowledge of legal matters and the desire to make a general difference in society. Law Enforcement officers investigate potential and actual crime violations and take the appropriate measures to deal with these in compliance with the law.

Career in Law Enforcement – Is it for you?

Law Enforcement is less glamorous and more demanding than portrayed on popular television shows. It is not a career for everyone, and you should carefully consider if you have what it takes to flourish in this line of work. Are you genuinely interested in upholding the law and assisting those in need? Do you have the drive and determination to make your community a better and safer place? Do you have good communication and interpersonal skills? Are you observant and possess good critical thinking abilities? Are you physically fit and able to handle stress well?

To get a better understanding of what the job entails, you can contact your local police department and get permission for a citizen ride-along. It will be a learning experience. Law Enforcement officers work long, tedious hours, must remain alert to emergencies, and have to know how to deal effectively with different types of people in different kinds of situations. They must maintain a calm, professional demeanor at all times in spite of daily aggravating encounters with the seamier side of humanity.

If this is something you can handle and if you can meet the high ethical standards, then Law Enforcement is the career for you.

Requirements for a career in Law Enforcement

To be eligible for a career in Law Enforcement, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must be a U.S. citizen.

• You must have a good character, emotional maturity, and integrity.

• You must have a degree from a regular college or an accredited online one. An associate’s degree is a minimum requirement for Law Enforcement work at the local and state levels, but you need a bachelor’s degree to become a Federal Officer. Degree programs in Criminal Law, Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice Administration, Homeland Security, Internet Law, Paralegal Studies, and Crime Scene Investigation will help advance your career. It will also help to take courses in Psychology, Political Science, and Economics. Excelsior College, to name one educational institute, has a variety of resources for a Law Enforcement career.

• You must have a clean record, with no current or previous convictions for crime, felony, domestic violence, or substance abuse.

• You must have a good employment and credit history.

• You must pass the Cooper Physical Fitness Test, the POST written academic test, an oral interview with the Civil Service Commission, and a final interview with the Police Department Staff.

• You must submit to finger-printing, a polygraph, drug screen, a psychological screening, and a thorough background check.

Career in Law Enforcement

Once you have successfully passed through the selection process, you must undergo several weeks of rigorous training at a Police Academy. The training should cover topics like Civil Process and Liability, Penal code, Code of Criminal Procedure, Institutional Policies, and Custody and Security Procedures. You will also receive instruction in driving, using firearms, and in conducting arrest, search, and seizure activities. Next comes a two-year probationary period with the Police Department, after which you become a certified Law Enforcement officer.

You can work in the county sheriff’s office or in the city police department and help enforce laws on the local level, or you can hold wider responsibilities with the State police. Your knowledge of Law Enforcement can also get you work as Legal Assistant in Law Offices and as a Court Reporter. Federal level work includes jobs with the U.S. Secret Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the FBI. You could find yourself responsible for protecting the President, enforcing drug laws, preventing crimes, and battling terrorism.

Specialized Law Enforcement units undertake such work usually and you require specialized training to serve with them. For state level and federal level positions, you must be willing to relocate as the job demands.

Here are some specialty positions in Law Enforcement:

Detective: All officers start out on patrol duty and then work their way up into the detective ranks. Detectives investigate crimes, conduct surveillance, and obtain information and evidence to apprehend perpetrators. The U.S. Bureau of Labor places median annual earnings for Detectives at $75,700 in Federal Government, $46,670 in State government, and $49,650 in local government.

K9 Officer:  A K9 officer works with a canine partner. You start out as a line officer and move up to a K9 unit on availability of position. Being an able dog-handler is an important factor here. K9 Officers are responsible for their dogs even on off-duty hours. Some K9 duties include searching and locating criminal suspects, crime evidence, or missing persons, detecting contraband materials, and providing back-up to patrol officers. As per the U.S. Bureau of Labor, K9 Officers earn around $50,000-$60,000 annually.

Probation Officer:  Probation Officers work with either adults or juveniles. They investigate the offenders’ backgrounds and any committed violations, offer counseling and assistance in matters of therapy, education, work, and housing, monitor their progress, prepare case reports, and testify at pretrial and parole board hearings. As per the U.S. Bureau of Labor, probation officers with the State Government earn around $39,810 and those with the local government around $40,560 annually.

Corrections Officer: Corrections Officers oversee arrested individuals and monitor inmates in prisons, jails, and correctional facilities. They inspect prison facilities for tampering, contraband stuff, or any needed repairs, curb disturbances and violence, and prevent security breaches. To become a Corrections Officer, you must undergo specialized training at the US Federal Bureau of Prisons residential training center at Glynco, Georgia. As per the U.S. Bureau of Labor, median annual earnings of correctional officers were $33,600 in May 2004.

Many Law Enforcement Officers serve part-time or full-time with AmeriCorps; full-time members receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $4,725 for their service. The AmeriCorps federal program, created by the Corporation for National and Community Service, gives American citizens the chance to work together on various fronts and provide stellar service to their communities and their nation.