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This question is about what a detective does.
Where do detectives work?
Detectives work in local police and sheriff's offices and for federal agencies. Most detectives work in police and sheriff's offices serving specific communities, like towns, cities, or counties.
In these settings, they work alongside other law enforcement officials with the goal of solving crimes. These may be offenses involving murder, assault, theft, or fraud. Detectives also may work with legal and judicial officials, such as attorneys, prosecutors, and judges. In the courtroom setting, they are often called to testify as expert witnesses.
A detective's time is typically split between being in an office, performing tasks like police paperwork or criminal interrogations, and being out in the field investigating crimes and questioning witnesses or people of interest.
Some detectives work for government agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF). These agencies have expanded jurisdictions that include all 50 states.
Detectives working for these types of government agencies are usually called "agents" instead of detectives. Though they do perform many of the same duties as police and sheriff detectives, they can also have even more responsibilities directly related to the focus of the agency.
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