What is a Police Detective?
Position Description Conduct investigations to prevent crimes or solve criminal cases.
What Do Police Detectives Do On a Daily Basis?
- Obtain summary of incident from officer in charge at crime scene, taking care to avoid disturbing evidence.
- Notify, or request notification of, medical examiner or district attorney representative.
- Preserve, process, and analyze items of evidence obtained from crime scenes and suspects, placing them in proper containers and destroying evidence no longer needed.
- Coordinate with outside agencies and serve on interagency task forces to combat specific types of crime.
- Prepare charges or responses to charges, or information for court cases, according to formalized procedures.
- Note, mark, and photograph location of objects found, such as footprints, tire tracks, bullets and bloodstains, and take measurements of the scene.
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Police Detective Needed Skills
Police Detectives state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Sex Crimes Detective
- Fugitive Investigator
- Crime Scene Supervisor
- Criminal Investigator
- Burglary Investigator
Is There Going to be Demand for Police Detectives?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 110,900 jobs in the United States for Police Detective. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 4.5% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 5,000 new jobs for Police Detective by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 7,500 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Police Detective are Nevada, Utah, and Arkansas. Watch out if you plan on working in New Jersey, Maryland, or Wyoming. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Police Detectives Salary
Police Detectives make between $43,800 and $138,860 a year.
Police Detectives who work in District of Columbia, Alaska, or Hawaii, make the highest salaries.
How much do Police Detectives make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $64,750 |
Alaska | $118,360 |
Arizona | $81,810 |
Arkansas | $60,340 |
California | $107,120 |
Colorado | $87,280 |
Connecticut | $90,470 |
Delaware | $89,930 |
District of Columbia | $122,460 |
Florida | $76,560 |
Georgia | $66,430 |
Hawaii | $107,010 |
Idaho | $73,510 |
Illinois | $87,470 |
Indiana | $75,150 |
Iowa | $73,320 |
Kansas | $62,260 |
Kentucky | $71,300 |
Louisiana | $65,090 |
Maine | $70,620 |
Maryland | $102,370 |
Massachusetts | $101,800 |
Michigan | $86,580 |
Minnesota | $76,640 |
Mississippi | $64,150 |
Missouri | $70,860 |
Montana | $81,210 |
Nebraska | $73,480 |
Nevada | $87,680 |
New Hampshire | $80,370 |
New Jersey | $102,600 |
New Mexico | $77,890 |
New York | $91,250 |
North Carolina | $60,810 |
North Dakota | $84,340 |
Ohio | $75,310 |
Oklahoma | $66,130 |
Oregon | $93,840 |
Pennsylvania | $85,730 |
Rhode Island | $86,580 |
South Carolina | $60,420 |
South Dakota | $72,050 |
Tennessee | $71,940 |
Texas | $79,950 |
Utah | $80,840 |
Vermont | $83,060 |
Virginia | $98,850 |
Washington | $85,440 |
West Virginia | $86,340 |
Wisconsin | $76,590 |
Wyoming | $81,750 |
What Tools do Police Detectives Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Police Detectives:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Spreadsheet software
- Microsoft Visio
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Microsoft Publisher
- Geographic information system GIS software
- Corel WordPerfect
- National Crime Information Center NCIC database
- Law enforcement information databases
- Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System IAFIS
- National Integrated Ballistics Information Network NIBIN
- SmartDraw.com SmartDraw Legal
- The CAD Zone The Crime Zone
- DesignWare 3D EyeWitness
- Crime mapping software
Becoming a Police Detective
Education needed to be a Police Detective:
What work experience do I need to become a Police Detective?
Where do Police Detectives Work?
Below are examples of industries where Police Detectives work:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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