| Working as municipal Police Officers or County | | | | Relocation or Home Purchase Programs? |
| Sheriffs are probably the most popular Law | | | | Once hired you will be sent off to the Police |
| Enforcement career choices. Working in this field | | | | Academy to become a certified Law |
| means that you will be employed by a city or | | | | Enforcement Officer in the state where you will |
| county government and your duties will include | | | | be working. Most Police Academy programs are |
| enforcing local and state laws. Pay and benefits | | | | lengthy and are require effort. Some Police |
| vary greatly between different Police | | | | Academy programs allow you to put yourself |
| Departments so you will have to do some | | | | through the academy without being hired by a |
| research before deciding where to apply. Larger | | | | Police Department. This is called being self |
| Police Departments usually give you more | | | | sponsored and it has become more popular |
| opportunities for advancement or transfers to | | | | because the city governments do not have to |
| specialty units. Larger departments also have | | | | pay for you to attend the academy because you |
| more specialty units such as swat, k9, marine, | | | | are paying all the expenses. |
| traffic, etc. Every Police Department also has their | | | | After completing the Police Academy you will |
| own hiring standards and policies so you will want | | | | enter the field training program where you will be |
| to ensure that you have the qualifications before | | | | trained for a number of months before going solo. |
| applying. Most Police Departments have a 20-25 | | | | Once solo, you will begin working as a |
| year retirement so make the right choice when | | | | probationary street cop who responds to calls and |
| applying for employment because you may be | | | | looks for self initiated activity in his/her area of |
| there for a very long time. | | | | responsibility. Most Police Departments require that |
| Some factors to consider when looking at | | | | new Officers spend a certain amount of time in |
| different Police Departments are as follows: | | | | the patrol division before putting in for transfers |
| Pay | | | | to specialized units such as swat, k9, detective, |
| Vacation/Sick Leave | | | | etc. |
| Medical/Dental Insurance | | | | This is a great place to get some experience |
| Retirement Benefits | | | | before applying for Federal Law Enforcement jobs |
| Shifts (8/10/12 hrs) | | | | if that is your goal. You will be very marketable if |
| Education Pay Incentives | | | | you have several years of street experience with |
| Off-Duty Work | | | | a municipal Police Department. This is a great |
| Master Officer Program? | | | | career field with excellent pay and benefits if you |
| Exercise Facility? | | | | do your research and find the right Police |
| Take Home Vehicle Program? | | | | Department. |