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Municipal patrol
Police Officer
Long stretches of routine broken by the calls you remember.
Typical pay
$50k-$100k
How you get in
Academy, 4-8 months, usually paid
Outlook
Widespread hiring shortages
Patrol officers respond to calls, write reports and enforce law in an assigned area. Most of the shift is paperwork, traffic and disputes rather than the incidents that define public perception of the job.
A day in the life
- 5:45aRoll call and briefing on overnight activity
- 6:30aPatrol the beat, traffic enforcement
- 9:00aDomestic disturbance call
- 11:00aReport writing in the car
- 1:00pCourt appearance on a prior arrest
- 3:30pShift change, finish reports
How to get in
Department-sponsored academy
Duration
6-12 months
Cost
$0 — you are paid as a recruit
Credential
State peace officer certification
- Apply to a department and pass the written and physical tests
- Clear the background investigation, polygraph and psychological exam
- Complete the academy as a paid recruit
- Finish field training with a veteran officer
Self-sponsored academy
Duration
4-8 months
Cost
$3,000-$8,000
Credential
State peace officer certification
- Pay your own way through a state-approved academy
- Certify before applying, which some states allow
- Apply to departments already certified — a real advantage in competitive markets
- Still complete each department's field training
Criminal justice degree first
Duration
2-4 years
Cost
$8,000-$120,000
Credential
AS or BS plus academy certification
- Complete a criminal justice or related degree
- Note that a degree is rarely required but raises pay in many departments
- Apply and complete the academy
- Required for federal agencies and most promotions
What people love
- · Pension and benefits are strong
- · No degree required in most departments
- · Overtime is plentiful
- · Specialized units — K9, detective, SWAT
What wears people down
- · Genuine physical danger
- · Shift work destroys sleep and holidays
- · Heavy public scrutiny
- · Cumulative trauma exposure