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Life As a Police Patrol Officer
Career Description Patrol assigned area to enforce laws and ordinances, regulate traffic, control crowds, prevent crime, and arrest violators.
Life As a Police Patrol Officer
- Testify in court to present evidence or act as witness in traffic and criminal cases.
- Review facts of incidents to determine if criminal act or statute violations were involved.
- Issue citations or warnings to violators of motor vehicle ordinances.
- Process prisoners, and prepare and maintain records of prisoner bookings and prisoner status during booking and pre-trial process.
- Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.
- Monitor traffic to ensure motorists observe traffic regulations and exhibit safe driving procedures.
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What a Police Patrol Officer Should Know
These are the skills Police Patrol Officers say are the most useful in their careers:
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.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Other Police Patrol Officer Job Titles
- Police or Patrol Park Officer
- Crime Prevention Police Officer
- Police Officer
- K-9 Police Officer
- Marshal
What Kind of Police Patrol Officer Job Opportunities Are There?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 684,200 jobs in the United States for Police Patrol Officer. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 47,700 new jobs for Police Patrol Officer by 2026. There will be an estimated 49,500 positions for Police Patrol Officer per year.
The states with the most job growth for Police Patrol Officer are Utah, Texas, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in New Jersey, Maryland, or Alaska. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Police Patrol Officer Salary
Police Patrol Officers make between $35,750 and $101,620 a year.
Police Patrol Officers who work in California, New Jersey, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
How much do Police Patrol Officers make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $45,930 |
| Alaska | $88,030 |
| Arizona | $64,640 |
| Arkansas | $39,560 |
| California | $101,380 |
| Colorado | $72,950 |
| Connecticut | $71,920 |
| Delaware | $70,000 |
| District of Columbia | $74,940 |
| Florida | $59,610 |
| Georgia | $42,990 |
| Hawaii | $74,040 |
| Idaho | $53,880 |
| Illinois | $75,720 |
| Indiana | $55,310 |
| Iowa | $58,340 |
| Kansas | $48,350 |
| Kentucky | $45,600 |
| Louisiana | $41,550 |
| Maine | $49,840 |
| Maryland | $68,230 |
| Massachusetts | $69,870 |
| Michigan | $56,270 |
| Minnesota | $69,060 |
| Mississippi | $35,550 |
| Missouri | $48,920 |
| Montana | $56,230 |
| Nebraska | $57,530 |
| Nevada | $70,450 |
| New Hampshire | $58,120 |
| New Jersey | $83,720 |
| New Mexico | $51,250 |
| New York | $74,860 |
| North Carolina | $48,420 |
| North Dakota | $57,190 |
| Ohio | $61,040 |
| Oklahoma | $46,120 |
| Oregon | $70,360 |
| Pennsylvania | $66,600 |
| Rhode Island | $60,890 |
| South Carolina | $42,280 |
| South Dakota | $48,550 |
| Tennessee | $44,600 |
| Texas | $61,870 |
| Utah | $53,890 |
| Vermont | $52,940 |
| Virginia | $56,710 |
| Washington | $77,670 |
| West Virginia | $43,590 |
| Wisconsin | $62,040 |
| Wyoming | $55,050 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Police Patrol Officers
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Police Patrol Officers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Email software
- Microsoft Visio
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- SmugMug Flickr
- ESRI ArcView
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- IBM Lotus 1-2-3
- National Crime Information Center NCIC database
- Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System IAFIS
- Law enforcement information databases
- National Integrated Ballistics Information Network NIBIN
- DesignWare 3D EyeWitness
- SmartDraw.com SmartDraw Legal
- The CAD Zone The Crime Zone
How to Become a Police Patrol Officer
What education is needed to be a Police Patrol Officer?
What work experience do I need to become a Police Patrol Officer?
Police Patrol Officers Sector
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those who work as a Police Patrol Officer sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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