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This question is about police officer.
What is the career path for a police officer?
The career path for a police officer includes positions such as police officer, detective, and chief of police. To become a police officer, you first need to graduate from a police academy. This requires you to be at least 18 years old and hold a high school degree or equivalent.
After graduating from the police academy, police officers can begin working. When they first start out, new police officers are often assigned to work with more seasoned officers so they can learn the ins and outs of the job and receive additional training. After some time, they can choose to continue as officers or pursue different paths.
Police officers interested in gathering facts and collecting evidence to help solve crimes can shift to becoming detectives. Detectives often work with police officers to solve these crimes. A degree in criminal justice is helpful for detectives as it gives them the tools necessary to solve crimes.
Some police officers may choose to pursue positions outside of the force such as a private investigator role. Similar to a detective, a private investigator works to solve crimes. Unlike a detective, they do not work for a specific agency, which gives them more agency.
Police officers may choose to focus on advancement and work to become lieutenants, captains, and even chiefs. These positions allow officers to have the ability to work as police officers but also be able to work over other officers and manage teams and work in leadership positions.
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