| A police career is a challenging and sometimes | | | | the military, there is very little adjustment time. |
| dangerous choice. It is not just writing out tickets | | | | For those who have the proper qualifications, |
| or making traffic stops. Police departments are | | | | promotions come more quickly. Along with the |
| part of the city and state governments. The main | | | | increase in pay for these promotions, comes a lot |
| responsibility for police is to keep order. | | | | of paperwork. |
| Depending on the country, the names for police | | | | Retired military are always accepted, with the |
| are different. When attending school for a police | | | | exception of having been discharged for |
| career, there are many courses that must be | | | | psychological reasons. A police career is one of |
| taken. Proper training is essential in order to | | | | the few career choices that can carry weapons |
| survive. A police officer must maintain the law and | | | | legally. Although the standard issue is a |
| order by enforcing the laws of society. Federal, | | | | nine-millimeter handgun, officers may carry |
| State, and local official create and pass the laws | | | | shotguns in the trunks of their cruisers for |
| that all must live by. | | | | situations that require more than a handgun. |
| A police career also involves training sessions on | | | | All of those who choose a police career start out |
| the weapons range. A police trainee must pass | | | | in a very low position. They usually are assigned |
| the test on the shooting range, and a yearly test | | | | to a specific community and get to know the |
| after being sworn in as an officer. | | | | citizens and businesses. Only after a specific |
| A police career may involve the officer walking | | | | period of time will they be considered for |
| the streets of his or her district, keeping the | | | | promotion. |
| peace and arresting lawbreakers. A police officer | | | | When choosing a police career, it must be taken |
| responds to calls for help and aids those in need | | | | into consideration that there can be dangerous |
| of medical attention. | | | | situations. A police officer is often faced with |
| They investigate crime, interrogate potential | | | | situations that are unpredictable. A simple traffic |
| criminals, and are required to keep detailed notes | | | | stop can have a disastrous outcome. They never |
| that will assist in the prosecution of criminals that | | | | know just what will happen at any given time. |
| have been arrested. Keeping detailed reports are | | | | In past decades, the police have had to deal with |
| very time consuming and some feel is the worst | | | | unpredictable situations. If they were at the scene |
| part of their duties. | | | | of an accident, they would assist and comfort the |
| Choosing a police career involves hours of | | | | injured. Today, they are hesitant to even hold the |
| classroom time, role-playing different scenarios. A | | | | hand of a victim for fear of contracting diseases. |
| police officer must be able to respond to any | | | | When apprehending a criminal, they need to |
| type of crisis call whether on duty of off. A | | | | exercise extreme caution, not only so they do |
| required course in a police career is psychology. | | | | not violate the rights of the criminal, but also |
| A police career will also train personnel in disaster | | | | because of the dangers of communicable |
| situations. They will be taught what to do in case | | | | diseases. |
| of natural disasters or terrorist attacks. They are | | | | The dangers that are associated with a police |
| taught protocol for every situation. | | | | career can cause stress on the job. In the United |
| Police academies throughout the country have | | | | States alone, over eighteen thousand officers |
| federal guidelines in which they have to teach | | | | have died in the line of duty. Some departments |
| students who choose a police career. This is done | | | | require that the street officers wear protective |
| not only to have a uniform police force, but also | | | | vests to protect them from being injured. |
| when emergencies arise in different states, police | | | | Some protocol of police departments requires |
| be transported from other states to assist with | | | | that the officer seek help from the department |
| local enforcement agencies. | | | | psychologist. This can be helpful in determining if |
| The more mundane duties of a police career | | | | there is a problem with officer. |
| involve issuing traffic tickets and citations, or | | | | In today's police career, an officer is allowed to |
| transporting an intoxicated person to the police | | | | search, seize and arrest a criminal. They are not |
| station. | | | | allowed to search or seize without probable cause. |
| Not everyone will be accepted to a police career. | | | | If this occurs, the defense will argue that their |
| There are a number of factors that are used to | | | | rights have been violated. If this can be proven, |
| determine if the person is both mentally and | | | | then the criminal is set free. Special care is taken |
| physically capable of becoming a police officer. | | | | not to violate the rights of the accused. |
| There are extensive psychological tests that are | | | | With a police career, a police officer is allowed to |
| given, as well a physically endurance tests. Officials | | | | interrogate a criminal, but cannot abuse or use |
| feel that if their officers are carrying weapons, | | | | excessive force in any way. Reading the arrest |
| they have to be completely in control. | | | | person their Miranda rights is also a part of the |
| It is also preferred that the candidate that | | | | police career. Specific laws that even the police |
| chooses a police career have some kind of higher | | | | have to follow. |
| education. The course that is preferred is criminal | | | | There are some officers that have gone their |
| justice. | | | | entire careers without having to draw their guns. |
| Often, retired military will seek a police career. | | | | Others draw them on a daily basis. It depends on |
| They have the discipline and training that is | | | | the region. In small rural communities other then |
| necessary for law enforcement. They are able to | | | | an occasional drunk and disorderly charge, there is |
| pass the rigorous physical fitness courses that | | | | very little crime. In large cities, it is rampant. More |
| police academies require. As police agencies are | | | | police officers are needed in a big large cities and |
| operated by a chain of command that is similar to | | | | towns. |