"patrol," "public safety," and "emergency situations" aren't the only skills we found law enforcement officers list on their resumes. In fact, there's a whole list of law enforcement officer responsibilities that we found, including:
What Does a Law Enforcement Officer Do?
The duties of a law enforcement officer depend on their line of work or agency of employment. In general, they are responsible for enforcing laws and regulations, prioritizing the safety of citizens and the protection of the city. Typically, their responsibilities include patrolling their designated area, responding to distress, monitoring suspicious activities and characters, conducting investigations and inspections, and coordinating various services to assist citizens. Moreover, as a law enforcement officer, it is essential to serve as a role model for citizens and uphold the oath to serve and protect.
Law Enforcement Officer Responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real law enforcement officer resumes representing typical tasks they are likely to perform in their roles.
- Attend NCO leadership school and receive training on how to properly, and effectively manage personnel.
- Accomplish scheduled and random security checks of control and classify areas to ensure compliance with DOD resource protection guidelines.
- Develop and manage firearms training programs, including weapons selection and qualification standards.
- Operate QRV solo, backing up BLS ambulances.
- Certify in defensive tactics, firearms, driver's training, professional first aid and CPR.
- DOT and FMCSA regulation enforcement.
- Maintain qualification for first aid and CPR.
- Assess patient's condition and provide BLS interventions when necessary.
- Maintain incoming and outgoing vehicular and pedestrian traffic at Lowry AFB.
- Plan and implement all training and orientation for paramedics and dispatchers.
- Implement use of software so investigators can have mobile access to NCIC and state files.
- Communicate with maintenance workers and mechanics to address and fix ambulances in need of service.
- Provide training and mentoring to new hire paramedics ensure they meet the standard of care.
- Used NCIC database to access individuals criminal history information in order to prepare for court proceedings.
- Serve as a first responder responsible for ensuring the safety and welfare of those in the community.
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Law Enforcement Officer Skills and Personality Traits
We calculated that 26% of Law Enforcement Officers are proficient in Patrol, Public Safety, and Emergency Situations. They’re also known for soft skills such as Empathy, Good judgment, and Leadership skills.
We break down the percentage of Law Enforcement Officers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patrol, 26%
Enforced state and federal laws, performed patrol and surveillance, regulated non-criminal activity and provided assistance to citizens.
- Public Safety, 10%
Lectured to senior officers as a recognized subject matter expert on Provost Marshal/Law Enforcement Security Operations, training and public safety.
- Emergency Situations, 7%
Make rational and quick decisions on situations arising without notice or in emergency situations without direct supervision.
- Criminal Justice, 6%
Attended and completed 40 hours of basic police firearms instructor/basic police instructor school in 1999, Criminal Justice Training Center
- CPR, 3%
Certified in defensive tactics, firearms, driver's training, professional first aid and CPR.
- Metal Detectors, 3%
Monitored metal detectors and utilized metal detection wand to scan visitors and employees for weapons.
The three companies that hire the most prestigious law enforcement officers are:
- Allied Universal26 Law Enforcement Officers Jobs
- Federal Reserve7 Law Enforcement Officers Jobs
- My Florida Regional Mls5 Law Enforcement Officers Jobs
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What Detectives Do
A detective is responsible for conducting in-depth investigations for criminal activities, potential threats, and other law-violating incidents, coordinating closely with law-enforcement agencies and crime intelligence analysts. Detectives often work on the field, gathering data and related evidence to support claims and connect the timeline of events. They keep an organized record of their findings for further validation before reporting it to the authority. A detective must have excellent investigative and critical-thinking skills, especially on solving puzzles and security solutions.
We looked at the average law enforcement officer annual salary and compared it with the average of a detective. Generally speaking, detectives receive $18,765 higher pay than law enforcement officers per year.
Even though law enforcement officers and detectives have vast differences in their careers, a few of the skills required to do both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require patrol, public safety, and crime scenes in the day-to-day roles.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. A law enforcement officer responsibility is more likely to require skills like "emergency situations," "criminal justice," "cpr," and "metal detectors." Whereas a detective requires skills like "physical evidence," "insurance fraud," "child abuse," and "burglary." Just by understanding these different skills you can see how different these careers are.
The education levels that detectives earn is a bit different than that of law enforcement officers. In particular, detectives are 1.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a law enforcement officer. Additionally, they're 1.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.
What Are The Duties Of a Deputy?
The duties of a deputy vary on their line of work or place of employment. In law enforcement, a deputy is primarily in charge of conducting investigations on crimes and arresting criminals, performing regular patrols on streets, responding to calls of distress, and assisting citizens in calamities, disasters, accidents, or any forms of threat. There are also instances when a deputy must serve court documents, transport detainees or suspected criminals, and monitor courtrooms. Furthermore, a deputy reports to higher-ranking officers such as a sheriff.
Now we're going to look at the deputy profession. On average, deputies earn a $14,463 higher salary than law enforcement officers a year.
A similarity between the two careers of law enforcement officers and deputies are a few of the skills associated with both roles. We used resumes from both professions to find that both use skills like "patrol," "public safety," and "emergency situations. "
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, several resumes showed us that law enforcement officer responsibilities requires skills like "criminal justice," "metal detectors," "computer aided dispatch," and "motor vehicle accidents." But a deputy might use skills, such as, "transport inmates," "federal laws," "motor vehicle," and "human resources."
On average, deputies earn a higher salary than law enforcement officers. There are industries that support higher salaries in each profession respectively. Interestingly enough, deputies earn the most pay in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $53,877. Whereas, law enforcement officers have higher paychecks in the government industry where they earn an average of $42,104.
When it comes to the differences in education between the two professions, deputies tend to reach similar levels of education than law enforcement officers. In fact, they're 3.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.
How a Criminal Investigator Compares
A criminal investigator is a law enforcement professional who endeavors to solve felony crimes. Criminal investigators may work alone or as a member of an investigative team whose goal is to uncover the certainty of a case and potentially keep suspects to prevent the ensuing criminal activity. Their tasks and responsibilities depend on various job functions and specialties. They may specialize in the information and evidence of a crime scene, conduct interviews and searches, or perform surveillance.
The third profession we take a look at is criminal investigator. On an average scale, these workers bring in higher salaries than law enforcement officers. In fact, they make a $15,301 higher salary per year.
Using law enforcement officers and criminal investigators resumes, we found that both professions have similar skills such as "patrol," "criminal justice," and "firearms," but the other skills required are very different.
Some important key differences between the two careers are a few of the skills necessary to fulfill responsibilities. Some examples from law enforcement officer resumes include skills like "public safety," "emergency situations," "cpr," and "metal detectors," whereas a criminal investigator might be skilled in "resourcefulness," "treasury," "investigative techniques," and "irs. "
Additionally, criminal investigators earn a higher salary in the government industry compared to other industries. In this industry, they receive an average salary of $52,921. Additionally, law enforcement officers earn an average salary of $42,104 in the government industry.
Criminal investigators are known to earn similar educational levels when compared to law enforcement officers. Additionally, they're 1.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.
Description Of a Police Cadet
Police cadets require multiple police department-relevant skills in traffic control, police reports, public safety, and special events. Those who choose this career will be responsible for participating in training programs that will introduce them to the fundamentals of law enforcement and prepare them for becoming police officers, supporting police operations like traffic control, working on criminal investigation, and performing administrative duties at the station.
Police cadets tend to earn a lower pay than law enforcement officers by about $5,976 per year.
While their salaries may vary, law enforcement officers and police cadets both use similar skills to perform their jobs. Resumes from both professions include skills like "patrol," "public safety," and "emergency situations. "
Each job requires different skills like "metal detectors," "computer aided dispatch," "firearms," and "motor vehicle accidents," which might show up on a law enforcement officer resume. Whereas police cadet might include skills like "parking enforcement," "cadet program," "police reports," and "livescan."
In general, police cadets make a higher salary in the government industry with an average of $38,178. The highest law enforcement officer annual salary stems from the government industry.
Police cadets reach lower levels of education when compared to law enforcement officers. The difference is that they're 5.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree less, and 1.7% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.
Types Of Law Enforcement Officer
Correction Officer
Average Salary: $39,369
High School Diploma
Available Jobs: 109,741
How To Become a Correction Officer
Police Officer
Average Salary: $52,638
Bachelor's Degree
Available Jobs: 56,794
How To Become a Police Officer
Officer
Average Salary: $52,506
Bachelor's Degree
Available Jobs: 47,883
How To Become an Officer
Patrol Officer
Average Salary: $35,621
Bachelor's Degree
Available Jobs: 12,907
How To Become a Patrol Officer
Detention Officer
Average Salary: $40,087
Bachelor's Degree
Available Jobs: 12,775
How To Become a Detention Officer
Loss Prevention Agent
Average Salary: $36,455
Bachelor's Degree
Available Jobs: 11,033